Originally Published June 3, 2011
Did you know that.....
Did you know that.....
- Each year, humankind adds six to eight billion tons of carbon to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels and destroying forest, pumping up the concentration of greenhouse gases responsible for global warming - an effect that could raise temperatures by three to ten degrees by the year 2050
- Global CO2 Emissions reached a record high of 30.6 gigatonnes in 2010
- While the U.S. makes up only 5% of the world's population, they produce 72% of all hazardous waste and consume 33% of the world's paper.
- As many as 70,000 people in the U.S may die prematurely from heart and lung disease aggravated by particulate air pollution.
- 40% of our waterways are undrinkable.
- The US has 5% of the world's population and 30% of the waste.
- 75% of global fisheries have been fished beyond capacity.
- 100,000 synthetic chemicals are used in production today.
- US industry *admits* to 4 billion pounds of toxic pollution released per year (likely far more).
- Average person consumes twice as much as 50 years ago.
- For every one garbage can you put out at the curb, 70 cans were filled by all the processes needed in order to make it.
- Trees are being felled at a rate of 100 acres per minute and 80% of the world's forests are already GONE!
- Canadians disposed off a whopping 30,460,624 tonnes of waste in 2002 and the Average American creates 4.5 lbs. garbage a day -- an amount doubled from 30 years ago.
- 99% of all those things we buy are not in use after 6 months.
- The UAE has the highest carbon footprint (11.9 hectares/person)