Coastal areas swamped by rising sea levels. Bleached coral reefs. More severe storms. Prolonged droughts in some areas, much wetter conditions in others. These are just some of the consequences scientists say we face as the planet warms. And, if we do not take immediate action to address this global threat, climate change will dramatically damage the lands and waters that nature and people depend on for survival.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human activities have increased greenhouse gases to their highest level in the atmosphere in 650,000 years, outweighing all other factors in causing climate change. Global temperatures have risen to their warmest level in 500 to 1,000 years. Even with the most successful emission reduction policies in place, the IPCC reports that climate change will continue to worsen over the next century.

What the Nature Conservancy is Doing.

The Conservancy is working to reduce the impacts of climate change in ways that protect plants and animals and benefit human welfare:

• Reducing emissions from deforestation – The Stern Review, a report by British economists, noted that deforestation contributes almost 25 percent of current global emissions of carbon dioxide. The Nature Conservancy is working to significantly reduce these emissions by catalyzing a global system of financial incentives that values carbon stored in standing tropical forests while contributing to sustainable development and the protection of ecosystems on which people depend.
• Helping natural areas adapt to the impacts of climate change – Millions of acres of land and thousands of miles of rivers and coastal areas that we’ve protected over the past 55 years are at risk. In response, the Conservancy is, for example, working to build resilient regional conservation networks across the globe that allow plants, animals and natural areas to survive.
• Supporting policies to reduce emissions – In the U.S., the Conservancy is ensuring substantial reductions of emissions agreements in the Northeast and West, and working toward passage of federal climate legislation. Internationally, The Nature Conservancy supports the development of a more comprehensive global agreement for emissions reductions that includes all major emitting countries and all major emissions sources, and incorporates nature-based strategies and funding to help people, plants and animals adapt.

Action starts when people talk.

In the midst of the dire climate change scenarios, there are reasons for hope and things we can do as individuals. First, start a conversation about the issue with friends, family and colleagues. Take a look at our Conversation Starters related to climate change for relevant and compelling facts. And, learn more about our work by visiting the Conservancy’s Climate Change Initiative. Here you can try our Carbon Calculator, an interactive tool lets you measure your household’s climate impact and offers tips and strategies for reducing your footprint.