Effects of Climate Change Stories

Thinking Beyond:
If humans are unable to limit carbon pollution, Cincinnati’s average temperature could climb by as much as seven degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. From a local grassroots movement to engagement at the national level, this city is taking the fight against the climate crisis into its own hands.
-
Tatyana Minenko, polar bear patrol team leader
Every fall, the Ryrkaipiy polar bear patrol, with the support of WWF Russia, works to protect the community and prevent human-wildlife conflict. Tatyana Minenko has been leading the patrol team since 2006. That’s when the climate crisis increased conflict in her village.
-
What are nature-based solutions and how can they help us address the climate crisis?
November 10, 2020Tackling the climate crisis will be one of the biggest challenges of our time, and nature itself can contribute to the fight.
-
Unparalleled in modern history, West Coast fires necessitate urgent climate action
September 17, 2020Apocalyptic scenes have multiplied in recent weeks, as fires claim lives and incinerate communities across the West Coast. The flames are fueled by a confluence of interwoven drivers, including decades of fire management practices focused on fire suppression paired with the worsening climate crisis.
-
The future of flight in an era of climate crisis
September 17, 2020Learn four steps to rebuild air travel in a way that protects us against dangerous climate change.
-
Park City, Utah recognized as a national leader on climate action
September 15, 2020Park City, Utah is the U.S. National Winner of WWF’s One Planet City Challenge in recognition of its leadership addressing the climate crisis.
-
Scientists record 110 new species in Greater Mekong
August 25, 2020A new WWF report details a vibrant diversity of plants and vertebrate animals in Southeast Asia that have never been scientifically identified.
-
Polar bears, climate crisis, and oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
The Arctic Refuge has been a place undisturbed by development. But in 2017 Congress approved opening the Coastal Plain of the Refuge to allow for oil and gas drilling. WWF has been vocal in its opposition for a host of reasons, and there is one significant bit of logic even Fish and Wildlife agrees with—the climate crisis makes the future of the region uncertain. Oil and gas development only compounds the problem.
-
3 billion animals harmed by Australia’s fires
July 28, 2020Australia’s bushfire crisis was one of the worst wildlife disasters in modern history. New WWF research reveals that the toll on wildlife was around three times higher than an earlier study estimated.
-
World on fire
WWF Magazine: Fall 2020As flames engulfed parts of the world last year, WWF sent emergency support to help local firefighters and communities in need. -
Five ways sharks and rays help the world
July 13, 2020Sharks and rays are some of the most enigmatic and misunderstood creatures of the ocean. They are crucial for the health of our planet. This blog describes five incredible ways in which sharks and rays help the world, from fighting climate change to digging through sand for their neighbors to feeding phytoplankton.
-
How cities around the world are working toward a greener future
WWF Magazine: Summer 2020Cities generate 70% of global carbon emissions. But around the world, cities are making changes to ensure a greener future. -
A hue-shifting chameleon's island home is under threat
WWF Magazine: Summer 2020Madagascar is home to remarkable, unique biodiversity. Unfortunately, threats to the island’s flora and fauna abound. Without strong conservation strategies, several species could be lost for good. -
The Deluge
WWF Magazine: Summer 2020As global average temperatures rise, parts of Bangladesh are experiencing severe, unprecedented flooding. A photographer shares a glimpse of what life looks like on the front lines of climate change. -
Searching for koalas that survived bushfires in Australia
WWF Magazine: Summer 2020In the aftermath of Australia’s devastating bushfires, WWF deployed field detection dogs to help locate surviving wildlife. During five days of searches in January 2020, the dogs found 10 koalas. -
How WWF is helping threatened species adapt to climate change
WWF Magazine: Summer 2020Climate change-related threats to biodiversity are happening now. As habitats change, extreme weather events increase, and temperatures rise, we need new tools to help biodiversity adapt. -
New study indicates a 53% decrease in area occupied by monarch butterflies
March 13, 2020The latest survey assessing the population of monarch butterflies that winter in Mexico indicates a population decrease of 53% since the previous season. In the 2019-2020 wintering season, the area of forest occupied by monarch butterflies was 7 acres, down from 15 acres in the 2018 - 2019 season.
-
Port Heiden, Alaska: the town that moved
WWF Magazine: Spring 2020Beginning in 1981, the coastal community was forced to move inland when it became clear that erosion, accelerated by retreating sea ice and strong storms, would one day take the town altogether. -
2019 is the second hottest year on record
January 15, 2020Last year was the second hottest on record, closing out the warmest decade so far. This is the sixth consecutive year in which global temperatures were the highest on record—an unprecedented streak, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
-
What is a carbon tax and how could it help us fight the climate crisis?
December 10, 2019How can we realistically cut carbon emissions and limit global warming? One key way is by pricing carbon—placing a tax on every ton of greenhouse gas emitted to make cleaner alternatives competitive.
-
COP25: WWF and the international climate talks
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.
-
The good news about climate change
There is no question that the climate crisis is here right now. But there is good news: every day we see more individuals, organizations, businesses, and governments responding to the crisis.
-
Climate Allies
WWF Magazine: Winter 2019The Alliances for Climate Action initiative was formed by WWF and partners to connect an international network of domestic coalitions committed to accelerating the transition to a zero-carbon future. -
Melting Down and Rising Up
September 25, 2019What should be frozen solid is now thawing and melting away—and communities are already dealing with the consequences. From Alaska to Miami to Bangladesh, learn how ice loss and sea level rise are impacting communities.
-
One billion people threatened by climate crisis risks to oceans, polar, and mountain regions
September 25, 2019Drastic and swift-moving changes to our oceans and the cryosphere—the Earth’s snow and ice-covered places—are one of the most dramatic consequences of global warming.