Climate & Energy

It is nearly impossible to overstate the threat of climate change. New climate research shows that greenhouse gas emissions are rising more rapidly than predicted.
WWF's goal is for the world to develop an equitable low carbon economy by 2050, which is resilient to that level of climate change which is unavoidable. All efforts should be undertaken to keep warming of global average temperature below 1.5°C (compared to 1850).

WWF works on low carbon development and climate policy, clean and smart energy, forests and climate, climate finance, and climate business engagement.

Our work to achieve a "climate-safe" future includes:
  • Advocating a new international climate agreement – one that is just and legally binding
  • Promoting energy efficiency – the most rapid and cost-effective way to reduce CO2 emissions
  • Promoting renewable energy sources – like wind, solar, and geothermal power
  • Preventing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation – currently responsible for 20% of all emissions
  • Developing and promoting climate change adaptation strategies – to safeguard the most vulnerable people and the most exposed ecosystems.
We also work with businesses to help them prepare for the low carbon economy.

As part of their work on conserving ecosystems and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, WWF's forest, freshwater, marine, and species programs are developing climate change adaptation strategies.

By 2050, we could get all the energy we need from renewable sources.

The Energy Report

WWF Climate Witness

Declining glaciers, changing weather patterns, and dying corals are some of the well-known impacts of climate change – but people around the world are also witnessing many others, from reduced stock fertility and misplaced penguins to tidal surges and increased heat-induced illnesses.

Experience their climate change stories – what is changing and how this affects their life and livelihoods – through WWF Climate Witness.

More information

Latest Climate News

Subscribe to this web feed
Anton VORAUER / WWF- Canon
The amount of greenhouse gases released by human activities – such as the burning of fossil fuels for energy and forest clearing – is called our "carbon footprint".

As a whole, people are currently releasing far more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than ecosystems can immediately reabsorb. In other words, our carbon footprint is outstripping nature's capacity to deal with it.

As a result, these gases are building up in the atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise – and, consequently, climate change.

Continued emissions of greenhouse gases could see the average global temperature rise by more than 4°C by the end of this century. The impacts of such a rise are the biggest threat to nature and humanity in the 21st century.

Fast Lane for Climate Innovation

  • / ©: Rosa Merk - WWF

Sign up for email updates

Sign up for email updates...

Privacy Policy

Find out more about tigers, one of the mos iconic species of our planet.

see all WWF gifts

Building a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

Photos and graphics © WWF or used with permission. Text available under a Creative Commons licence.