The choices we make now could save the Earth by 2050, or they could make the future almost unrecognizable.

It’s not just a problem for future generations to deal with; climate change is happening now. Now is the time, and the clock is ticking. If we keep ignoring the warning signs and don’t do something big together, the world could be in big trouble by 2050, and so could every living thing on it.

Temperatures are going up: the world is on fire.

If global warming isn’t stopped, the average temperature around the world could go up by more than 2.5°C (4.5°F) by 2050. That may seem small, but it would cause huge changes in the environment.

Heatwaves would last longer, happen more often, and kill more people, especially in places with a lot of people, like India, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia.

Urban heat islands would make summer unbearable in cities, with temperatures often rising above 50°C (122°F).

Millions could die from dehydration, heatstroke, and the air getting worse.

Wildfires, like the ones we’ve already seen in California, Australia, and Greece, would happen all year long, destroying ecosystems and forcing people to move.

Water Shortage: The New Global Crisis

Water is life. But if we keep going the way we are, more than 5 billion people could run out of water by 2050 because of drought, melting glaciers, and dirty rivers.

• The Ganges, Yangtze, and Nile rivers may dry up at certain times of the year, which could put billions of people who depend on them at risk.
• Without irrigation, farming communities would fall apart.
• Disputes over water could become common, causing tensions between countries.
• Water could be worth more than oil in some places.

Superstorms and Climate Change

Extreme weather could become the new normal by 2050. More hurricanes like Katrina, more typhoons like Haiyan, and more cyclones hitting places that have never seen them before.

Due to rising sea levels and strong storm surges, cities on the coast like New York, Miami, Mumbai, and Jakarta could be underwater.

The waves could completely cover island nations like the Maldives and Tuvalu.

Refugees won’t just leave because of war; they’ll leave because of the weather. By 2050, there will be an estimated 1 billion climate refugees.

Food Insecurity and Famine

• The warming climate will have a huge effect on food systems around the world.
• High heat will make it hard for crops like wheat, rice, and corn, which are the main sources of food for people around the world.
• Yields will go down, prices will go up, and there will be food shortages all over the world.
• Drought, disease, and bad grazing conditions will kill livestock.
• Many people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America could starve to death in large numbers.
• Think about having to pay $20 for a loaf of bread or seeing the shelves at the store always empty.

More illness, less protection

• Warmer weather also means that diseases spread more easily.
• Dengue, malaria, and Zika-carrying mosquitoes will move north into new areas like southern Europe and parts of the U.S.
• As the permafrost in Siberia and the Arctic melts, it could let out viruses that have been frozen for hundreds of years.
• Stress from climate change makes our health systems and immune systems weaker.
• There may be more pandemics and they may be harder to stop.

Ecosystems are falling apart and species are going extinct.

• This crisis will affect nature too.
• Coral reefs, like the Great Barrier Reef, could completely disappear.
• Species that live in the Arctic, like polar bears, walruses, and snow foxes, could die out.
• The oceans will become more acidic, the forests will burn, and the variety of life will die out.
• There are already more than a million species that are in danger of going extinct. Many could be gone by 2050.
• It can take hundreds of years for an ecosystem to recover after it has fallen apart, or it may never happen.

Life as a Human: An Unfair Disaster

• Let’s be honest: climate change doesn’t affect everyone the same way.
• The Global South’s poorest communities will be hit the hardest, even though they are responsible for the least amount of emissions.
• Rich countries may try to build cities that can withstand climate change, but they can’t stay safe forever.
• The gap between rich and poor will get even bigger.
• Climate-driven migration will put even more stress on governments and borders that are already weak.
• This is more than just an issue with the environment. It’s a crisis for health, social justice, the economy, and morals.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

• The good news? There is no set plan for the future. We still have time, but not for long.
• We need to act quickly now by:
• Switching to wind, solar, and hydro power
• Moving to diets based on plants and farming that is good for the environment
• Taking care of and restoring forests and oceans
• Putting money into climate-resilient and green infrastructure
• Teaching people and fighting for climate justice

…we can still make the world a good place to live and work in 2050.

We could see:

• Solar grids power clean cities.
• Lands that have been reforested and wildlife that is thriving
• Communities that are healthy and have access to clean air, water, and food
• Jobs in climate change are driving new economies.
• A planet we are happy to leave behind
• Now Is the Time to Act

Stop thinking about the worst that could happen and start working toward the best that could happen.

Every choice is important. Everyone’s voice matters. You’re part of the solution if you vote for climate policies, lower your carbon footprint, support eco-friendly businesses, or raise awareness.

If we don’t do something now, the question won’t be “What could the world look like in 2050?”

Will we even know what it is?