At a conference at the Vatican, biologists warn half of all animals will be extinct by 2099. Currently 20% of species are at risk of becoming extinct. That means 1 in 5 species are at high risk now, but in 83 years, one out of two species will be at high risk of extinction. Topping this list is rhinos and tigers, of which there is some awareness, but for many species, there is no awareness at all.

Our very lives and the lives of our children depend on diversity in nature, to purify water and air, absorb carbon, and enrich our lives.

It’s hard in the face of global problems to conceive of what one person can do. It feels sometimes insurmountable. I do feel like in the past 5-10 years we have made a lot of strides globally to bring countries together to combat climate change, and what we’re experiencing right now is a dangerous, but temporary, set back.

1. Donate money to non-profits that are working to save ecosystems: NRDC, Audubon Society, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Sierra Club. Even $10 or $20 dollars will help. These groups have now been around for a long time, and have efficient administrations that can apply the money quickly and where it’s needed.
2. Call your government representatives on the local and federal level. The reality is this problem is now much bigger than the actions of any individual. No matter how hard you try to walk more or consume less, at this point it’s going to require the action of governments, and especially global governments working together, to change where we are. That means its the responsibility of individuals to get unite to try to move government in the direction we want. If you’re in the US, you can find your list of representatives here: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ and a list of senators here: https://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/