Why now?
The web is a major contributor to the dramatic rise in CO2 levels
The average website produces 4,500 lbs of CO2 a year — the equivalent of driving around 10,000 miles. This is in part why CO2 levels have skyrocketed.
What impact has this had?
Increase in extreme weather events
From droughts and floods to wildfires and volcanic activity, the number of global natural disasters has dramatically increased around the world. In 2017, for example, natural disasters cost the United States $306 billion in damages.
Sea level rise
Sea level rise means the ocean will gradually inundate low-lying areas, destroying homes and public infrastructure, and displacing entire populations. 11 of the world’s 15 largest cities are on the coast—more than half of the population in the United States lives along the shoreline.
Increase in average global temperature
In the last 40 years, temperatures have risen on average by nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit, doubling the rate of increase from the previous 40 years. Increasing temperatures can reduce air quality by creating more smog, pollen and other air-borne allergens that impact the 235 million people with asthma around the world.