Climate Change Impacts: Wildlife at Risk

 

Climate change and global warming - impacts and threats - wildlife at risk

 

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Climate change and global warming: Coral bleaching caused by warming seas is driving coral reefs towards extinction

Coral bleaching caused by warming seas is driving coral reefs towards extinction. You can help protect coral reefs!

Climate change and global warming: Polar bears may face extinction within the next century if we don’t act now to stop global warming

Polar bears may face extinction within the next century if we don’t act now to stop global warming. Learn more facts about climate change.

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Tell us what you think about our climate change work. What do you think are the biggest impacts of climate change?

Climate change and global warming - impacts and threats - wildlife at risk

Rising temperatures are changing weather and vegetation patterns across the globe, forcing animal species to migrate to new, cooler areas in order to survive.

The rapid nature of climate change is likely to exceed the ability of many species to migrate or adjust. Experts predict that one-fourth of Earth’s species will be headed for extinction by 2050 if the warming trend continues at its current rate.

Many species are already feeling the heat:

  • In 1999, the death of the last Golden Toad in Central America marked the first documented species extinction driven by climate change.
  • Due to melting ice in the Arctic, polar bears may be gone from the planet in as little as 100 years.
  • In the tropics, increased sea temperatures are causing more coral reefs to “bleach,” as the heat kills colorful algae that are necessary to coral health and survival.
  • Several U.S. states may even lose their official birds as they head for cooler climates — including the Baltimore oriole of Maryland, black-capped chickadee of Massachusetts, and the American goldfinch of Iowa.

Donate now to help stop climate change and global warming

With your help, we can reduce the impacts of climate change.

Climate change picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Harvey Payne (bison, Oklahoma); Photo © Harvey Payne (American goldfinch, Oklahoma); Photo © Photos.com (coral reefs); Photo © Lindsey P. Martin (polar bear).