'The world's forest areas have shrunk by 178m hectares since 1990': climate emergency facts

Save our trees

Forests contain a rich number of different species and help mitigate the impacts of climate breakdown. But the process of deforestation means they are being destroyed and the land used for other purposes. While the rate of loss is slowing, the world’s forest area has decreased by an estimated 178m hectares since 1990.

Taking flight

Flying from London to New York and back generates about 986kg of CO2 per passenger. In countries such as Burundi and Paraguay, the average person emits less carbon dioxide in a whole year.

Rising sea levels

If greenhouse gas emissions aren’t constrained there may be a worst-case scenario of sea levels rising as much as 8.2ft by 2100, compared with 2000 levels.

WWF estimates that 50% of species are at risk of local extinction if no action is taken

What is ‘net zero’?

The UK’s greenhouse gas emissions were estimated to be 451.5m tonnes in 2018. Greenhouse gases trap the sun’s heat and cause global heating. A “basket” of seven gases are taken into account, with carbon dioxide making up 81% of these. The better news is that these figures are lowering. Emissions in 2018 were 43.1% lower than they were in 1990. And in 2019, the government committed to a 100% reduction of emissions by 2050. This is known as “net zero”.

The UK’s true carbon footprint

Greenhouse gas emissions are calculated on a “territorial” basis and only account for emissions produced within a country’s borders. In 2017, the UK’s total “carbon footprint” was 772m tonnes once global consumption was taken into account – much higher than territorial emissions (but down 21% from its 2007 peak of 977m tonnes).

Disappearing ice

As greenhouse gases are released – heating the globe’s atmosphere and seas – glaciers and sea ice are melting at unprecedented rates. Greenland lost 600bn tonnes of ice in 2019 alone, more than double the island’s average losses between 2002 and 2019.

Decade deadline

A landmark UN report from 2018 warned that humans had just 12 years to avert a potential climate catastrophe. Scientists claimed that without urgent action, global temperatures would rise beyond 1.5C, putting hundreds of millions at risk of extreme weather events and poverty. We are now more than two years on – the clock is ticking.

Climate change could force more than 140 million people from their homes by 2050

Global heating

Average UK temperatures have risen by 1C over the past century, meaning we are seeing hotter conditions all year round. In July 2019, the UK recorded its highest ever temperature of 38.7C.

Eating meat

Despite plant-based diets gaining popularity, the world now produces three times as much meat compared with 50 years ago, and global meat production amounted to more than 340m tonnes in 2018.

Green revolution

The government’s plan for a “green industrial revolution” to move us towards net zero emissions forecasts the creation of 250,000 jobs in industries including offshore, nuclear, and electric vehicle manufacture.

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