Climate Change

Climate change is among the greatest threats to birds, other wildlife, and people ever experienced by humanity. We still have the power to affect how serious its consequences will be, but we must act now!

1. Impacts are already being seen and long term-predictions make it clear that Audubon and every concerned organization must get members to take action now to reduce global warming pollution.
   • Scientists predict that global warming will lead to extinction of a quarter of all species on earth in the next 50-75 years
   • Floods, droughts, storms and other impacts will increasingly take a toll on natural habitats and food supplies, displacing people and wildlife worldwide.

2. Real solutions exist now.
   • Everyone can make lifestyle changes and help to alter local and national policies so we can deal with this issue while there’s still time to protect the things we care about.
   • Scientists tell us we need to cut global warming pollution by 2% a year to reach our goal of 80 % cuts by mid-century. That means leaving behind the dirty fossil fuel driven technologies of yesterday and adopting the clean renewable energy solutions that will fuel the economy of tomorrow. 
   • By capping Global Warming pollution and using technologies we have today—wind, solar, increased energy efficiency and conservation — we can achieve more than three-quarters of the emissions reductions we need to reach our goal.
   • We have all the tools and all the technologies we need to reduce Global Warming emissions and create a cleaner, safer environment, but we need to act now.

3. Addressing global warming pollution will help to protect birds, other wildlife, and natural resources.
   • Reducing fossil fuel consumption helps to protect wildlife and ecosystems that are at risk from mining, drilling, deforestation and development
   • Lowering fossil fuel consumption also reduces air and water pollution that harm wildlife, people and economic values. 
   • Protecting and restoring forests, farmland, grasslands and other means of carbon sequestration provides significant benefits for habitat and ecosystems.

4. The Solutions to reducing Global Warming pollution provide lots of other benefits and those benefits far outweigh the costs.
   • Reducing oil consumption reduces our dependence on the Middle East, air and water pollution, offshore oil drilling, and spills
   • Reducing the use of coal improves air quality and public health; protects mountains in West Virginia, farm and ranchland in the west, forests in New England and fisheries worldwide. Overall, addressing these emissions is a win-win-win situation that conserves our environment and the people who depend upon it, improves our national security by reducing our addiction to oil, and makes America a leader in producing clean energy jobs and technologies.

Global Warming and the Top Ten Things You Can Do

Writing an Effective Letter to the Editor