This is what we know

Carbon pollution from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas is warming our planet and causing climate change.

It’s simple: the more carbon pollution in the air, the more the sun’s energy gets trapped as heat. Which means things keep getting hotter. You’ve almost certainly heard the phrase “global warming”? In fact, the world has already gotten nearly 1°C warmer since 1880.

Warmer temperatures have real consequences for all of us—not just for polar bears. Sea levels around the world have risen nearly 20cm (7.8 inches) since 1901, swallowing entire islands and creeping closer to populated areas of great coastal cities like New York, Melbourne, and Dakar.

Plus, extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods, and droughts are becoming more frequent and intense. Witness the devastation in 2017 as Hurricane Harvey tore through the Caribbean and southern US, destroying homes and leaving millions without power for weeks and even months.

The denial machine

Meanwhile, Big Polluters like oil and coal companies aren’t going down without a fight. After all, they’re making billions from dirty energy while the rest of us pay to clean up their mess. That’s why they’ve spent decades running well-funded campaigns to mislead and deceive the public about what’s really happening to the planet.

These polluters — and the special-interest groups they support — are even following the exact same playbook as the tobacco industry used to confuse the public about smoking and cancer in their efforts to stifle climate protection.

But scientists aren’t confused about carbon pollution and climate change. And we shouldn’t be either. If Big Polluters are spreading lies and blocking our path to a clean-energy future, then it’s up to us to call them out and get them out of the way.

After all, our future is at stake – and we can’t leave it in the hands of a few powerful corporations.

Pricing Pollution: The Fair Climate Solution

We know carbon pollution from fossil fuels is causing global warming and disrupting our natural systems.

We know what it’s costing us. More extreme weather disasters, higher healthcare bills, and an uncertain future for our children, to name only a few. All while fossil fuel companies rake in billions.

So how do we turn this around? How do we make energy fair?

We start by pricing carbon pollution. Pricing pollution means putting a fair market price on greenhouse gas emissions so the companies responsible pay for the damage they do.

Pricing pollution isn’t just about making companies pay. It’s also about encouraging them to make better energy choices and choose cleaner alternatives like wind and solar. Because when they do, they pollute less and they pay less.

Less pollution means less climate change. Which means we all win. 

What you can do

A global challenge needs a global solution. So, we’re inviting everyone to join the solution culture that’s taking on the biggest issue humanity has ever faced and help create a sustainable future for the Earth.

There are many ways you can help. Wherever you are, whatever you do, and whatever time you have, you can help bring us one step closer to a future without carbon pollution.

Whether it’s watching a video to learn more about the issue, sharing a post, or training as a Climate Reality Leader, the actions you take can have a real impact and propel our movement forward.

The future we want is there for the taking – but only if we work together.