Climate Stories

In 2015, nearly 200 countries signed a historic agreement in Paris that established the world’s first truly global plan to tackle climate change. Now, three years later, there’s still a significant gap between current country emissions reductions pledges and what’s needed to limit global temperature rise. In response, leaders from businesses, local governments, higher education, and communities are coming together to establish domestic coalitions in support of climate action. 

Keeping trees, grasses, and soil intact and restoring them can help get us a long way toward meeting America's urgent climate goals.

This month marks one year since the United States confirmed it was pulling out of the Paris Agreement. But across the country, national leaders and citizens continue to drive climate action and ensure the nation fulfills its emissions targets set by the accord. 

June 1 marks the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, with early forecasts indicating a slightly above average year for storms. But as this hurricane season begins, many coastal communities are still dealing with the enormous devastation of the last one—a barrage of unusually intense storms that scientists at WWF and beyond warn could become routine as the planet continues to warm.

At WWF, we’re engaging with millions of Americans, leading businesses, and government leaders to tackle climate change. Here are nine reasons why we’re hopeful in the face of this threat.

Up to half of plant and animal species in the world’s most naturally rich areas—including the Amazon and the Galápagos—could face extinction by the turn of the century due to climate change if carbon emissions continue to rise unchecked.

January 2018 brought record-low sea ice cover to the Arctic, according to new data released by the US government. That’s bad news for the ocean, wildlife, and local communities that rely on both for survival.

Dozens of fluffy shy albatross chicks sitting on artificial nests are a promising sign for scientists behind an innovative plan to give the vulnerable species a boost to help counteract the negative impacts of climate change.

The Green Climate Fund, a multilateral fund dedicated to helping developing countries respond to climate change, continues this tradition of cooperation for the common good.

Big-box retailer Walmart set an ambitious goal to reduce its carbon emissions. Then it encouraged its suppliers to do the same.

In Muenster, Texas, a wind farm is benefiting both individuals and the larger community.

Because incubation temperature of turtle eggs determines the animal’s sex, a warmer nest results in more females. Increasing temperatures in Queensland’s north, linked to climate change, have led to virtually no male northern green sea turtles being born.

After a year of extremes in the US—from floods to hurricanes to wildfires—2017 is officially the third-hottest year on record. Much of the warming is attributed to human-caused changes in climate.

As 2017 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to highlight some of our biggest conservation successes of the year. And we couldn’t have done it without your support.

Bhutan now has a great means for bringing that commitment to life—long-term funding to ensure its protected areas, which cover half of the country, are properly managed forever. It is the first initiative of its kind in Asia and one of only a few in the world.

Climate change impacts all parts of the world, and finding solutions to the challenges posed by such an immense threat will require action from every country. Annual international climate talks are key to effectively addressing the problem.

A tight-knit ranching community in Muenster, Texas is home to something pretty special: a clean energy revolution.

Assuring the world that the United States is still an ally in the fight against climate change, American leaders outside of the federal government—from governors and mayors to business executives and university presidents—announced they will attend the next round of international climate talks in November.

Remeza, Kingeline, Yollande and Hanitra are all part of WWF’s access to sustainable energy program managed in collaboration with India’s Barefoot College. The four women joined women from several other countries for a six-month training in India in applied solar technology. Most women joining the program leave their country, sometimes their native regions or villages, for the first time in their lives.

The We Are Still In declaration demonstrated to world leaders that America’s cities, states, tribes, businesses, colleges, and universities will work to meet the commitments of the Paris Agreement.

California is a global winemaking powerhouse. But extreme weather—from droughts to floods, all driven by climate change—could threaten that productivity.

Leaders across the US economy reaffirmed their commitment to climate action despite the Trump administration’s decision to pull out of an unprecedented and essential international agreement to curb climate change.

The United States has announced its intent to withdraw from the historic Paris Agreement, the world’s first truly global plan to address climate change.