WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change underscored the grave threat climate change poses to America’s wildlife heritage and animal populations worldwide. The National Wildlife Federation urged policymakers in the United States and beyond to act on climate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address this looming crisis.

“Wildlife in the United States and around the world already are being threatened by climate change, and as the report notes even a 1.5-degree rise in global temperatures would severely disrupt species’ abilities to survive and adapt,” said Bruce Stein, chief scientist at the National Wildlife Federation. “The consequences for wildlife of a 2-degree rise in temperature are even more severe, and would commit large numbers of species here in the United States and worldwide to extinction.”

Shannon Heyck-Williams, the National Wildlife Federation’s climate policy lead, added: “Policymakers should heed this alarming report and aggressively act on climate change before the damage to our wildlife, world and way of life becomes irreversible. Congress should move swiftly to enact a price on carbon, and the administration should cease and desist its misguided efforts to rollback climate pollution limits for power plants, cars, and the oil and gas sector.”

Learn more about the National Wildlife Federation’s recommended policies to mitigate climate pollution and help wildlife and human communities adapt to unavoidable impacts.