Planet Facts
Climate
Climate is the usual weather of a place over many years. Gases like carbon dioxide trap heat around Earth like a blanket.
Earth's average temperature is now more than 1 °C warmer than in the late 1800s.
Source: NASA Climate Kids
There is more carbon dioxide in the air today than at any time in human history, mostly from burning coal, oil and gas.
Source: NOAA Climate.gov
Growing plant foods usually releases fewer heat-trapping gases than producing meat and dairy.
Source: Our World in Data
What would you do?
Your school is only a short walk away and the weather is fine. How do you get there?
Oceans
Oceans are giant, salty homes for whales, turtles, fish and tiny plankton. They also help control Earth's weather.
The ocean covers about 71% of Earth's surface.
Source: NOAA
Scientists estimate that about half of the oxygen on Earth is made by ocean plankton.
Source: NOAA Ocean Service
Plastic that reaches the sea can tangle animals or be mistaken for food.
Source: NOAA Marine Debris Program
What would you do?
You are having a picnic at the beach. What do you do with your wrappers?
Forests
Forests are full of trees, fungi, insects, birds and mammals. Trees store carbon and give animals food and shelter.
Forests cover about 31% of the world's land.
Forests are home to most of the plants and animals that live on land.
Source: UN Environment Programme
Clearing forests for farmland, especially for cattle pasture and animal feed, is a major cause of forest loss.
Source: Our World in Data
What would you do?
You need paper for drawing. Which do you choose?
Recycling
Recycling turns old things into new things. Even better is to reduce what we use and reuse what we have.
Glass and metal cans can be recycled again and again.
Source: US EPA
Food scraps can be composted into soil food for gardens.
Source: US EPA
Reduce, reuse, recycle: the first two steps save the most energy and materials.
Source: US EPA
What would you do?
Your yoghurt pot is empty. What happens next?