Our planet is warming. Here’s what’s at stake if we don’t act now.

The document argues that limiting global warming to 1.5°C is critical to avoid severe impacts, noting that the world is already 1.1°C warmer than pre-industrial levels. It compares the risks of 1.5°C versus 2°C warming across several metrics: sea level rise (1.5 feet vs 1.8 feet by 2100), coral reef degradation (70% vs virtually all), and human exposure to extreme heat waves (1 billion vs 2.7 billion people every 5 years). It also highlights increased flood risks and habitat loss for insects, plants, and vertebrates. To combat this, the text advocates for a transition to 100% clean energy in buildings, the electrification of transport, and sustainable agricultural practices.

• The Earth has already warmed by 1.1°C (1.9°F) compared to the pre-industrial period (1850-1900), and limiting further warming to 1.5°C is necessary to avoid the most severe impacts.
• Increasing the warming threshold from 1.5°C to 2°C significantly worsens outcomes for ecosystems and humans: coral reef degradation increases from 70% to 'virtually all', and the number of people exposed to extreme heat waves every five years rises from 1 billion to 2.7 billion.
• Climate change threatens biodiversity and physical infrastructure, with sea levels potentially impacting 1 billion people by 2050 and a higher percentage of insects, plants, and vertebrates losing more than half their habitats at 2°C compared to 1.5°C.
• Mitigation requires a multi-sectoral approach, including transitioning buildings to 100% clean energy via solar panels and heat pumps, electrifying transportation, and reducing agricultural emissions through local food sourcing and composting.

APA

WWF International (n.d.). Our planet is warming. Here’s what’s at stake if we don’t act now. https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/our-planet-is-warming-heres-whats-at-stake-if-we-dont-act-now/

Chicago

WWF International. Our planet is warming. Here’s what’s at stake if we don’t act now. n.d. https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/our-planet-is-warming-heres-whats-at-stake-if-we-dont-act-now/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Our planet is warming. Here’s what’s at stake if we don’t act now. |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/our-planet-is-warming-heres-whats-at-stake-if-we-dont-act-now/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternationalndour, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Our planet is warming. Here’s what’s at stake if we don’t act now.}}, institution = {WWF International}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/our-planet-is-warming-heres-whats-at-stake-if-we-dont-act-now/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }