It is real, it is here and we must take action.
We've rounded up 10 important facts about climate change — some may surprise you. Share with your friends on social media and spread the word about this critical issue.
5 of 5: The past 5 years are the 5 warmest years on record.
2 decades: 20 of the hottest ever 22 years mark the last 2 decades.
97 percent: The percentage of scientists who agree that warming trends over the past century are very likely caused by human activity.
1950: Year when atmospheric CO2 levels broke records from the previous 400,000 years, sharply rising and continuing to grow.
2018: Warmest year on record in global oceans.
8 inches: Rise in global sea levels since 1880, with 3 inches rise in the last 25 years.
400 parts per million: Average concentration since 2016 of CO2 in the atmosphere, compared to 275 PPM for past 400,000 years.
21: Average annual number of wildfires in Central and Eastern Washington — up from an average of six per year in the 1970s.
19th century: The heat-trapping nature of CO2 was first demonstrated.
25 percent: The increase in acidity of the world's oceans.
$440 billion: Estimated economic losses to the United States by end of the century if no action is taken on climate change.
Sources: NASA, Env. Protection Agency, Nat’l Climate Assessment, National Geographic
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Banner photo © Mac Stone
