49 Sustainability Facts About Our Planet

When it comes to eco-friendly living, finding your why is essential. So we put together a list of sustainability facts and statistics to motivate and inspire you to take action. 

But first, a disclaimer:

Some of the stats about the environment are hopeful. Most, unfortunately, are not. We are producing, consuming, and wasting way more than our planet can handle. From global warming to acid rain and species extinction, we have already done so much damage. 

You might not like reading about these things. They paint a sobering picture of what we, as a society, have done to nature. Our goal is not to frighten you (though we are frightened.) 

We hope our eco friendly facts and statistics will push you to see the impact of our actions. And to take responsibility for your contribution to these problems. Hopefully, this inspires you to change your habits – and to see the why in doing it. 

So, without further ado, let’s talk about what our world looks like: 

Facts About Climate Change

The Earth is getting warmer by the minute. Here’s how humungous the climate changes already are: 

1. 2020 tied as the warmest year on record, according to NASA analysis. It edged out 2016 by a margin within the error of the analysis. 2020 was practically the warmest year we’ve ever seen. 
2. The Arctic is warming three times as fast as the rest of the globe due to sea ice loss. This phenomenon is known as Arctic amplification. 
3. Arctic sea ice is declining at a rate of 13.1% per decade. The resulting rise in global sea levels has far-reaching consequences for communities and ecosystems around the world. 
4. Ninety percent of global warming happens in the ocean. Since water expands with heat, rising water temperatures mean even more sea-level rise. 2020 was the ocean’s hottest year and had the world’s highest sea level. 
5. CO2 and other greenhouse gas levels rose to record highs in 2019. Even the COVID-19-related reduction in emissions didn’t halt climate change and air pollution. 
6. The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to under 2, preferably below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, we’re not hitting the agreement’s goals. 

Facts about Waste Water & Access to Clean Water 

Billions of people lack access to safe drinking water. At the same time, developed nations are wasting and polluting water at unprecedented rates. These are some water conservation facts you need to know: 

7. Eighty percent (80%) of the world’s wastewater is dumped with little to no treatment. As a result, communities across the globe are exposed to microorganisms that cause disease and potentially life-threatening poisonings. 
8. Globally, 1 in 3 people does not have access to clean water. 
9. One hundred forty-four million people drink untreated surface water, risking serious health consequences. 
10. Additionally, 2 out of 5 people lack access to a basic hand-washing facility. Almost half of the schools around the world don’t have a hand-washing facility with soap and water.
11. Over 673 million people, most of them in rural areas, do not have access to flushable toilets. The result is that runoff from outside latrines pollutes the local water supply. 
12. Poor sanitation practices contribute to 800,000 deaths from diarrhea every year. Unsafe drinking water kills more people than all forms of violence combined. 

While most Americans have access to safe drinking water, we’re not exempt from the problems surrounding water pollution:

13. Forty-six percent (46%) of the nation’s rivers and streams are in poor biological condition. One in four was unsuitable for fishing or swimming due to pollution. 
14. Every year, 1.2 trillion gallons of untreated sewage are dumped into US water. 
15. Over 244 million people in the US drink water containing contaminants linked back to industrial waste. 
16. Industrial polluters tend to be located near low-income and minority communities. This fact contributes to environmental inequalities among Americans. 

And, there is even more that you should know about water pollution: 

17. Eighty percent (80%) of marine and ocean pollution comes from land-based sources like agricultural runoff and waste plastics. 
18. Farming waste and sewage leaks have caused an excess of nutrients in some areas. This creates low oxygen areas where marine life can’t survive. These dead zones now have a global area as big as the United Kingdom. 
19. Marine pollution has a direct impact on people’s livelihoods. Some 3 billion people depend on coastal biodiversity to survive. 
20. A whopping 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in oceans every year. 
21. If the current rate of pollution continues, by 2050, we will have more plastic in the world’s oceans than fish. 

Facts About Energy Use & Clean Energy

Ever since the Industrial Revolution, fossil fuels have been our primary source of energy. Unfortunately, they’re also a significant source of pollution. Fossil fuels are one of the main culprits behind climate change. 

Access to clean energy is essential to creating a sustainable society. Clean energy comes from renewable sources like water, wind, or the sun. Here’s how we are doing on that front:

22. Only 17% of global energy consumption comes from renewable sources. 
23. The energy output of most fuels is very inefficient. Coal only returns 29% of its original value in energy. 
24. Renewable sources are also more economically sustainable. Wind, for example, returns 1,164% of its original value in energy.
25. Renewable energy also creates five times more jobs than fossil fuels. 
26. Our energy efficiency is improving, but it still falls 3% short of the sustainable development goals. 
27. Three billion people lack access to clean and safe cooking fuels. 
28. Access to clean energy in the household is essential. Indoor air pollution from inefficient cooking practices causes 4 million premature deaths every year. 
29. Most of the adverse health consequences are in women and children. Exposure to household air pollution caused 45% of all pneumonia deaths in children under five years old.
30. Access to electricity is also not a given in hospitals. In some developing countries, 1 in 4 healthcare facilities does not have electricity. 

Facts About Species Preservation

Plant and wildlife diversity is essential to our planet’s health. From filtering out carbon dioxide to pollinating crops, plants and wildlife are crucial to the human species survival. 

While we’re taking necessary steps towards preservation, it is not enough. Unfortunately, some of the facts are less-than-pleasant. 

31. Currently, around 1 million plant and animal species are threatened with extinction. 
32. Forests are the most cost-effective way to combat climate change. They absorb 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
33. Every year, the world loses over 24 million acres of forest, either through cutting down or fires. 
34. Eighty (80%) of the Earth’s terrestrial species live in forests. Deforestation is one of the significant causes of species extinction. 
35. Deforestation also leads to land degradation, which is already affecting 3.2 billion people around the world. 
36. On a more positive note, the rate of deforestation is dropping. Some experts think we can achieve zero deforestation by 2030. 
37. Illicit poaching and trafficking are big threats to ecosystems. Close to 7,000 species of animals and plants are involved in illegal trafficking around the world. 
38. Increased human invasion of fragile ecosystems is also a public health issue. Disease transfer between wildlife and livestock and humans becomes increasingly common. For example, the Pangolin (one of the most trafficked animals in the world) is likely to have been the cause of COVID-19 transfer to humans. 

Facts About Working & Living Conditions

Finally, let’s not forget that sustainability goes beyond ecosystems. Humans are affected by many of the issues we’re facing today. And, it’s often underprivileged communities that suffer the most. 

Low GDP countries continue to face many challenges. Problems like poverty, poor sanitation, access to healthcare, and educational inequality are rampant. 

Here are a few stats that will give you an idea about the impact we’re having on communities around the world: 

39. In 2015, 10% of the world’s population still lived in extreme poverty. That means living on less than $1.90 per day. While it’s an improvement from 2013, political conflict can quickly erase any gains in many areas.
40. It is estimated that the COVID-19 pandemic can increase worldwide poverty by up to half a billion people. 
41. Extreme poverty and limited employment opportunities expose workers to abusive labor situations. Estimates say there are 24.9 million people trapped in forced labor. 
42. Women and girls are most affected by modern slavery. 99% of sex trafficking victims and 58% of all forced laborers are female. 
43. Working conditions in rural agriculture are notoriously poor. Workers face the risk of work-related fatalities, non-fatal accidents, and occupational diseases. 
44. Out of 1.1 agricultural laborers in the world, only a small fraction receives a livable wage. 
45. The textile industry is another significant source of worker exploitation. Most garment workers clock in 14-16 hour days, seven days a week. 
46. Less than 2% of garment industry workers get paid a livable wage. 
47. Textile workers are also exposed to a range of health hazards. Workers face chemical pollution, lack of fire and evacuation precautions, and the risk of personal injury. 

Garment production happens to be one of the least eco-friendly industries:

48. Clothing and footwear production causes 10% of global greenhouse emissions. This amount is more than maritime shipping and all international flights combined. 
49. Not only are we over-consuming clothes, but we’re also far from sustainably disposing of them. Globally, under 1% of textiles get recycled, and 87% end up in landfills. 

Global overconsumption is taking a toll on our planet and communities. We need to reconsider how we shop; otherwise, we will all face dire consequences.

Conclusion

We do not live in a perfect world, far from it. Some of our going green facts and statistics are hopeful, but most are sobering or even downright depressing. In a world that works around consumption, it’s hard to stop many of these issues. 

But, while we can’t do a lot to change the system, there is plenty you can do personally. Eco activism is one side of the fight, and people working in this field are essential to lasting change. 

Equally important, however, is making a shift in our lifestyle. As consumers, we have the power to dictate what the industry does. Increased consciousness of sustainability issues has led a lot of companies to go greener. While for some, it has been pure greenwashing, others have taken meaningful steps to improve. 

So, if these stats about the environment worried you, the best thing to do is think about how you can make your life more sustainable. What commitments are you making toward a better future? We’d love to hear about them in the comments below!