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How many pets are in the United States? How many animals are in shelters?

Facts about U.S. Animal Shelters:

The terms "humane society" and "SPCA" are generic; shelters using those names are not part of the ASPCA or The Humane Society of the United States. Currently, no government institution or animal organization is responsible for tabulating national statistics for the animal protection movement. These are national estimates; the figures may vary from state to state.

Approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats. We estimate that the number of dogs and cats entering U.S. shelters annually has declined from approximately 7.2 million in 2011. The biggest decline was in dogs (from 3.9 million to 3.1 million).

Each year, approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats). The number of dogs and cats euthanized in U.S. shelters annually has declined from approximately 2.6 million in 2011. This decline can be partially explained by an increase in the percentage of animals adopted and an increase in the number of stray animals successfully returned to their owners.

Approximately 4.1 million shelter animals are adopted each year (2 million dogs and 2.1 million cats).

About 810,000 animals who enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners. Of those, 710,000 are dogs and 100,000 are cats.

*These estimates are based in part on Shelter Animals Count data and other known and estimated sources, 2019. These are national estimates based on data obtained from shelters and rescues; the figures may vary from state to state.
Facts about Pet Ownership in the U.S.:

It's estimated that 78 million dogs and 85.8 million cats are owned in the United States. Approximately 44% of all households in the United States have a dog, and 35% have a cat. (Source: American Pet Products Association 2015-2016 (APPA))

Approximately 40% of dog owners and 46% of cat owners learned about their pet through word of mouth. (Source: APPA)

According to the APPA, these are the most common sources from which primary methods cats and dogs are obtained as pets (Note: this information was based on a multiple response question, which results in the total % exceeding 100% individually for cats and dogs. In addition, the 'other' category includes all source categories that were reported by <10% of both dog and cat owners):

APPA reports that 34% of dogs are purchased from breeders, while 23% of dogs and 31% of cats are obtained from an animal shelter or humane society.

Around 27% of cats are acquired as strays, down from 35% in 2012. (Source: APPA)

According to the ASPCA's National Rehoming Survey, pet problems are the most common reason that owners rehome their pet, accounting for 47% of rehomed dogs and 42% of rehomed cats. Pet problems were defined as problematic behaviors, aggressive behaviors, grew larger than expected, or health problems owner couldn't handle.

The preceding data are ASPCA estimates unless otherwise indicated.
You may also wish to visit:

American Pet Products Association
https://www.americanpetproducts.org/

The National Council on Pet Population Study & Policy (NCPPSP)
https://theaawa.org/page/nationalcouncil

The American Veterinary Medical Association
https://www.avma.org/ (see U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics)

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How many pets are in the United States? How many animals are in shelters? Get the answers to these and other questions about pet statistics.

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Being a volunteer at the CCSPCA benefits you just as much as it benefits us. We have specific volunteer programs for juniors (8-14) and youth (15-17) as well as for adults (18+). Besides getting to work with animals and dedicated staff members, here are 7 other benefits of being an animal shelter volunteer.

Why Become an Animal Shelter Volunteer

1. It's a feel good thing. Being an animal shelter volunteer at the CCSPCA makes you feel like you are doing the right thing. You are contributing to the solution, which makes you feel good about the work you are doing. Part of the job as a volunteer is that you work with the animals so they can become adoptable. Most of the animals we receive through our open door shelter are strays and have had little to no human interaction. By working with them on a semi-regular basis, they begin to trust you and other humans in extension. This helps them come out of their shell, stop being so timid, and become desirable to adopters.

2. You instantly see the results of your labor. As you begin to work with an animal, you can see a change in their personality almost instantly. As mentioned earlier, most of our Animal Center's pets are strays and have had limited interactions with humans. After spending time with the animals, whether it's taking them for a walk, giving them a bath or just showing them some love, their personalities come out and they start to shine. You can almost see the change in their behavior instantly. Now, that is something entirely rewarding.

3. Animal shelter volunteers are needed! We have a constant intake of animals. Each one of these animals needs your love and care. Your help will never go unnoticed and you will never feel like you aren't helping in some way. There will always be a dog to walk, a cat to groom or some animal to give your love to. The most important volunteer job at the CCSPCA is dog walking. Walking dogs is the easiest cure for kennel stress. Kennel stress is the behavior dogs have when transitioned to a kennel. Signs of kennel stress include hiding in the back of the kennel, be less active or stop eating. Some dogs may behave aggressively in response to stress, while other dogs will begin to perform repetitive behaviors, increase their frequency of barking/vocalization, become destructive, and start to urinate and defecate in their kennel. Stress may also affect a shelter dog's physical health, causing increased susceptibility to diseases and a longer recovery time from illness. If dogs can get out of the kennel to take a walk on a regular basis, this helps relieve the stressors of the kennel and will in turn begin to act happy and healthy.

4. Being an animal shelter volunteer is good for your emotional, physical, and mental health. It is scientifically proven that spending time with animals helps lower your stress levels and blood pressure. It will also keep you active, especially if you prefer to walk dogs. You get to create a unique bond with the animals, which helps your emotional health. Caring for pets can help you deal with depression, anxiety, and stress. Playing with a dog or cat can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which helps you be calm and relaxed.

5. You gain professional and life experiences. Volunteering is a great way to try out a new career or to try something new. This is a prime opportunity to explore a new area of interest. At the CCSPCA, we offer a variety of different volunteer jobs to choose from. Some of the adult positions include Adoption/Rescue/ Foster Services Assistant, Dog Socialization and Walking, Feline Friend, and Bathing Assistant. By volunteering, you develop new skills as well as building upon your own strengths. This also helps with resume building! The more skills and job experience you have on your resume, the more desirable you are to an employer. Along the same lines as your resume, being a volunteer also builds your list of references.

6. Volunteering encourages civic responsibility. By volunteering you get to contribute to a cause you care about. So, if you are passionate about saving animals, volunteering at the CCSPCA would be right up your alley. Volunteering also makes you feel like you are involved with your community and making a difference. It gives you a chance to give back to your community as well.

7. You learn responsibility and time management. We expect our volunteers to behave in a professional manner. That means being on time to your scheduled shifts and notifying us when you might be late. Being a responsible person who manages their time well will make a valuable employee and a well-rounded person. It also shows that you have taken the initiative to dedicate your time to a specific cause.

If you are interested in becoming an animal shelter volunteer, please visit our volunteer page or contact our volunteer department at 559-233-7722 ext. 111 or email at volunteer@ccspca.com

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7 Benefits of Being an Animal Shelter Volunteer

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Being a volunteer at the CCSPCA benefits you just as much as it benefits us. We have specific volunteer programs for juniors (8-14) and youth (15-17) as well as for adults (18+). Besides getting to work with animals and dedicated staff members, here are 7 other benefits of being an animal shelter volunteer.

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The first Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) was organized in England in 1824, primarily to prevent the abuse of carriage horses in the days before automobiles. Horses were driven through freezing cold winters and stiflingly hot summers, often with little food, water or rest. The carriage drivers were interested only in making as much money as possible and would beat the horses if they refused to or were unable to pull the carriages.

The first SPCA helped to pass laws that regulated the carriage-horse business. With this success, the Society expanded to include dogs and other animals in its fight against cruelty. The first American SPCA was started in 1866 in New York City. There are now SPCAs all over the U.S., and indeed, all over the world.

SPCA International was founded in the U.S. in 2006. The mission of our organization is simple but vast: to advance the safety and well-being of animals.

The majority of local SPCAs and humane societies around the world are not affiliated with national organizations, as most people may presume. Therefore, SPCA International seeks to develop and utilize a worldwide network that both supports independent animal groups and promotes the safety of animals. SPCA International strives to assist the growth and impact of independent shelters through alliance building, information networking, national and international programs.

In 2007, SPCA International launched our first major shelter initiative - Shelter of the Week (later renamed the Shelter Support). SPCA International provides financial support at the local level by awarding grants to selected animal welfare organizations. These grants make a big difference to struggling shelters, in the U.S. and worldwide, and help to improve physical conditions, enhance spay and neuter programs and ultimately reduce euthanasia rates. From dog and cat rescues, to wildlife rehabilitation centers, to special needs recovery centers, to foster programs, SPCA International has extended support to shelters in every U.S. state, as well as to international organizations in over 60 countries. And our support continues to expand.

SPCA International founded our second major initiative, Patriot Pets (formerly known as Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide), at the request of many U.S. military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. This program provides veterinary care, clearance and transport for animals that U.S. service members befriend during deployment. Patriot Pets is an expensive and logistically challenging program, but it does more than save the lives of these animals; it also brings comfort and peace of mind to our U.S. soldiers serving overseas and helps them cope when they return home. To date, SPCA International has helped hundreds of soldiers transport their animals out of the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and more.

SPCA International also runs a variety of Education initiatives. Together with our partners, SPCA International provides humane education to thousands of people through printed material, online resources, school programs and in-person clinics. Through our website and email support, SPCA International staff and volunteers provide a global information and referral resource that assists animal guardians and advocates.

As we forge ahead, SPCA International continues to expand the scope of programs, launch new initiatives, increase the size and volume of shelter grants awarded and expand education programs. This small international organization is making a big difference in the lives of animals throughout the world.

Won't you Join Our Cause today?

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The first Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) was organized in England in 1824, primarily to prevent the abuse of carriage horses in the days before automobiles. Horses were driven through freezing cold winters and stiflingly hot summers, often with little food, water or rest.

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Shelter Intake & Surrender

One of the largest challenges facing animal welfare organizations today is the sheer number of animals in need of assistance. Every year, approximately 6.5 million companion animals arrive at one of the community animal shelters nationwide.

Although animals enter shelters for a variety of reasons, the majority of shelter populations are comprised of strays, rescues and surrenders:

Stray animals are often found on the streets and brought in by Good Samaritans or local law authorities. Unchecked stray populations tend to grow in areas without accessible and affordable spay/neuter services.

Animals rescued from cruelty can come from situations like hoarding cases, dog fighting rings and puppy mills. These animals often suffer from trauma and require extra care and rehabilitation.

Surrendered animals are animals whose owners can no longer care for them due to financial, behavioral or other unforeseen barriers.

Due to these overwhelming intake rates, shelters often struggle to adopt out all-or even most-of the animals who come through their doors. With so many lives at stake, it's important to understand exactly what we're up against:*

Of the approximately 6.5 million companion animals who enter shelters nationwide every year, approximately 3.3 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats.

Each year, approximately 1.5 million animals are euthanized (670,00 dogs and 860,000 cats).

Approximately 3.2 million shelter animals are adopted each year (1.6 million dogs and 1.6 million cats).

About 710,000 animals who enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners (620,000 dogs and 90,000 cats).

Of the dogs entering shelters, approximately 48% are adopted and 20% are euthanized

Of the cats entering shelters, approximately 50% are adopted and 27% are euthanized

About twice as many animals enter shelters as strays compared to the number that are relinquished by their owners.

* Currently, no government institution or animal organization is responsible for tabulating national statistics for the animal protection movement. These are national estimates; the figures may vary from state to state.

Donate to the ASPCA and Help Animals

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One of the largest challenges facing animal welfare organizations today is the sheer number of animals in need of assistance. Every year, approximately 6.5 million companion animals arrive at one of the community animal shelters nationwide.

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Stray Animals - The Staggering Numbers

It's no secret that homeless animals are a problem in our Central Valley and across the United States. Pet overpopulation stems from several factors: cats and dogs reproducing with little chance of their offspring finding homes, lack of spaying or neutering, pet owners relinquishing their pets to shelters, and irresponsible pet owners. 2.4 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs are euthanized in U.S. shelters each year due to pet overpopulation.

In 2014-2015, more than 24,800 cats and dogs came to our shelter. That's 24,800 cats and dogs that don't have a home, are lost, came from owner surrenders, and transfers from other shelters.

To give you a comparison of how dire this situation is for the California and the Central Valley, let's review the intake of other California shelters. The San Diego Humane Society's animal intake for the 2013-2014 year was a little over 9,000. The Sacramento SPCA's intake for 2014 was over 6,900, and San Francisco SPCA's intake was near 4,800.

As you can see, we receive four to seven times more animals than other shelters in California.

If you think these numbers are alarming, it's because they are. We, as a community, need to make a difference. We can make a change.

We need this community's help to decrease the number of stray and homeless pets in Fresno city and county.
You can make a difference: here's how.
How You Can Make an Impact on the Numbers

1. Spay or Neuter Your Pet

Spaying and neutering your pet is the best thing you can do to help prevent pet overpopulation in the Central Valley. The key is to prevent the problem before it begins.

Spay and neuter procedures are common surgeries performed by veterinarians while your pet is under anesthesia. Female animals are spayed by removing their ovaries and uterus, and male animals are neutered by removing their testicles. Spaying or neutering also has other physical, behavioral, and environmental benefits. For more information about these advantages, please visit our website at ccscpa.com.

We offer a low-cost spay and neuter program called Hip, Snip, Hooray. It provides an affordable price to the community to prevent unwanted pets. Hip, Snip, Hooray prices for spay or neuter surgery range from $29 to $134, depending on the weight of your pet. That is considerably less than what it would cost to care for a litter of puppies or kittens.

We also offer a program for low-income families called Snip n Chip. If you qualify for the Snip n Chip program, the price for a spay or neuter is only $35 per pet (four pets total per person) and includes a free microchip.

2. Adopt an Animal from the CCSPCA

Instead of purchasing a pet from a breeder or pet store, adopt from our adoption center or one of our off-site locations. When you adopt from the CCSPCA, your adoption fee includes a spay or neuter surgery, microchip & registration, vaccinations (dogs - rabies & DHPP, cats - FVRCP), dewormer, a free vet exam, one month of flea/tick preventative, and a gift/offer of $750 in pet insurance.

Since the adoption fee includes all of these services, it saves you time and money. These services would normally cost between $194 to $396 or more at other veterinary hospitals. By having these services already completed, your time spent at a veterinary clinic is reduced.

When you adopt a pet, you're a hero by saving a life. Not only are you providing a forever home, but you're also reducing the number of homeless pets in our community.

3. Microchip Your Pet

The American Humane Association estimates that 10 million dogs and cats get lost in the United States every year. Many pets end up at our shelter because they get lost. Unfortunately, most of these pets are not reclaimed by their owners and are put up for adoption. At the CCSPCA, we see an increase in lost pets during the Fourth of July and New Year's. Pets are often frightened by loud noises or fireworks and get lost by trying to find a safe place to hide.

Microchips can reunite lost pets with their owners quickly, easily, and efficiently. When you microchip your pet, it provides a peace of mind that should your pet become lost, they will be returned to you.

We offer low-cost microchipping and sometimes have microchipping specials. Microchipping is available daily at the CCSPCA Small Animal Hospital, by appointment only, and on Wednesdays at our adoption center. Please contact the hospital at 559-237-1125 to schedule an appointment.

4. Educate Your Children, Family Members, Friends, and Co-Workers

30,000 homeless pets cross our door yearly. If that statistic was shocking to you, you're not alone. Many Central Valley residents are unaware of how severe our pet overpopulation has become. Being aware is only half the battle. Help us combat pet homelessness by educating others in our community.

Our education department focuses on the importance of spaying and neutering with an emphasis on the impact of pet overpopulation in the Central Valley. We have special classes, offer tours, presentations, and work with many schools in the valley to help share the message of how this community can help end pet homelessness.

Share the importance of spaying and neutering with friends and neighbors. Let them know that there are affordable options for spaying and neutering, and that by doing so; they can make an impact on the number of homeless pets in the Central Valley.

5. Think Before You Breed or Purchase from a Breeder

The Central California SPCA (CCSPCA) believes there is a place for responsible breeding of companion animals. However, inhumane and inadequate breeding facilities exist; therefore, we encourage individuals to exercise caution when purchasing animals from breeders and to consider alternative means for acquiring companion animals.

The CCSPCA believes that adoption through humane societies and rescue organizations is critical. Because of the number of animals in need of homes, we advocate that people choose to adopt rather than purchase a pet.

Shelters and breed specific rescue organizations shelter and place purebred animals, many of which would otherwise be euthanized or abandoned by breeding operations. Also, mixed breed animals often display the personality traits and characteristics one associates with a purebred animal, often without the health disorders found in certain pure breeds.

Purchasing from a breeder

Responsible breeding operations play a role in preserving and enhancing the very best characteristics of their breeds and are committed to the humane care of their breeding animals and their breeding animals' offspring.

The CCSPCA recognizes the role of exceptional breeders that are committed to exceptional care of their animals and those that educate themselves to recognize inherited disorders and sterilize animals that could pass on these disorders.

The CCSPCA also encourages breeders to educate themselves on pet overpopulation and make breeding choices that do not further contribute to this pervasive problem.
If people do choose to purchase animals from a breeder, the CCSPCA encourages them to diligently research potential breeders to ensure they're not supporting inhumane and inadequate breeding practices. Some of the characteristics common to irresponsible breeders are as follows:

sub-standard health and/or environmental conditions

sub-standard animal care, treatment and/or socialization

sub-standard breeding practices which lead to genetic defects or hereditary disorders

erroneous or falsified certificates of registration, pedigrees and/or genetic background

6. Keep Your Pet For Life

Before you adopt or, buy a pet understand the commitment you're making. Dogs and cats can live upwards to 13-15 years, some even longer. Pets are your responsibility for their lifetime. Puppies and kittens may be cute when they're young, but how will you feel when they've lost their cuteness and started to gray? Will you still love them the same or will you surrender them to a shelter? It's no secret that senior pets are the last to get adopted, and they are less likely to adapt to a shelter setting.

Evaluate your lifestyle and determine if bringing a pet into your home is the best for both you and the pet. Determine what type of pet you're looking for and choose a breed that best fits your lifestyle. For guidance on how to choose the right pet, please read our guide on how to choose the right dog for you.

7. Fight Puppy Mills

According to the ASPCA, there are an estimated 10,000 puppy mills in the United States.
"Puppy mills are inhumane commercial dog breeding facilities that sell puppies in pet stores, online, or directly to the public. Puppy mills usually house dogs in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water, and socialization." ( ASPCA)

Although the Animal Welfare Act passed a federal law to regulate commercial dog and cat breeding in 1966, it doesn't stop puppy mills the way they treat the animals they house.

Puppy mills disregard the animal's health and are only in business for profit. "In order to maximize profits, female dogs are bred at every opportunity with little to no recovery time between litters. When, after a few years, they are physically depleted to the point that they no longer can reproduce, breeding females are often killed." (Source - ASPCA)

One way to combat puppy mills is not to shop at pet stores that purchase puppies from puppy mills. However, the best thing you can do is adopt.

If you know of a puppy mill that is being cruel to dogs or cats, report them to the Humane Society of the United States.

8. Donate to Spay and Neuter Programs

The CCSPCA is able to provide low-cost spay and neuter programs because of supporters in our community.

By donating to our spay and neuter programs, we are able to continue to offer low-cost spay and neuter surgeries. As stated early, spaying and neutering saves lives and reduces pet homelessness.

9. Report Stray Pets

If you see a stray cat or dog, never put yourself in harm's way by attempting to capture it. If see the stray in the city of Fresno, please report it to the CCSPCA by calling 559-233-7722. If the stray is in the county of Fresno, please report it to Fresno Humane Animal Services at 559-600-7387.

Our dispatch team will send an officer to pick up the animal. Once it arrives at the shelter, we will scan it for a microchip and will hopefully be returned to the owner. If there is no microchip, the animal will go up for adoption after a 4-day hold period and behavior assessment.

10. Support the Central California SPCA

Our mission is to provide protection, placement, and education to ensure responsible animal care. We are dedicated to our mission and strive to reduce the number of stray pets in Fresno.

You can make a difference in supporting our shelter! Helping can be as easy as liking us on Facebook and sharing our social media content with friends and family. Other ways to support the CCSPCA is be becoming a member, holding a supply drive, or hosting a third party fundraiser.

However, the most important way to help is to:

There are many ways you can get involved and we need YOUR help to decrease the number of stray pets.

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10 Ways to Decrease the Number of Stray Animals

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It's no secret that homeless animals are a problem in our Central Valley and across the United States. Pet overpopulation stems from several factors: cats and dogs reproducing with little chance of their offspring finding homes, lack of spaying or neutering, pet owners relinquishing their pets to shelters, and irresponsible pet owners.

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You're driving your car when you see a dog on the side of the road. With a sinking feeling, you realize they are alone. What should you do?

This is a wrenching scenario for all who care about animals. After all, what if your own pet were standing there? Use our guidelines for providing safe and effective help.

Don't cause an accident

You can't help an animal if you become injured in the process. Look in your rear-view mirror before braking, turn on your signal, pull your car completely off the road, turn off the ignition, set the parking brake, and put on the hazard lights. If you have emergency flares, prepare to use them.

Catch them safely

Safety first

A strange, frightened, and possibly sick or injured animal can behave unpredictably. A sudden move on your part, even opening your car door, can spook them and cause them to bolt-possibly right onto the highway. If the animal looks or acts threatening, or if you feel uneasy about the situation, stay in your car.

If possible, restrain the animal. Create a barrier or use a carrier, leash, piece of cloth, or length of rope to keep the animal in the area. Signal approaching vehicles to slow down if you cannot confine the animal, or divert traffic around them if they appear to be injured and is still on the roadway.

Use caution

Use caution when approaching the animal. Should you succeed in getting close enough to capture them, you stand a good chance of being scratched or bitten.

When moving toward the animal, speak calmly to reassure them. Make sure they can see you at all times as you approach, and perhaps entice them to come to you by offering strong-smelling food such as canned tuna or dried liver.

Lure them into your car

If you are certain you can get help from animal control very soon, try to lure the animal into your car with food, close the door and wait for help. In most cases it isn't a good idea to attempt to drive somewhere with a strange dog unrestrained in your car; they may become frantic or aggressive. Cats may do the same, as well as lodge themselves under the car seat, and it can be dangerous trying to extract them.

Call for backup

If you're not able to safely restrain the animal, call the local animal control agency (in rural areas, call the police). Do so whether or not the animal is injured, and whether or not they are wearing an identification tag. Leave your phone number with the dispatcher, and try to get an estimate of how long it may take someone to respond. If possible, stay on the scene to keep an eye on the dog or cat until help arrives. Make sure you report to authorities precisely where the animal is by using road names, mile markers or landmarks.

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If you found a dog or cat, here are some tips to help reunite those pets with their owners or help a stray dog or cat.

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You don't have to be big to make a big impact! Here are some great ways that kids can help save rainforests.

Sign up for useful tips to green your life and protect our planet.

1. Ask your parents to buy foods-like bananas and coffee-that are grown in a sustainable way-In a way that is safe for the environment, for wildlife, and for people.

2. Do a class project to learn more about rainforests and the plants and animals that live there. Create a skit, write a story, or decorate your classroom to look like a real rainforest. Use our coloring pages to get you started.

3. Have a bake sale, garage sale, or school fundraiser to raise money to donate to an organization that works to conserve rainforests.

4. Read about other children who live in and near the rainforest; see how they and their families depend on the plants and animals in the rainforest.

5. Tell your friends and family about how important the rainforests are, or ask your teacher to teach your class more about rainforests.

6. Use less paper-re-use paper instead of throwing it out. Cut it up to use as a notepad, or recycle the paper you use. Ask your parents and teacher about how they recycle their paper.

7. Ask your school to buy environmentally friendly paper.

8. Write a letter and post on social media (with an @ mention) to thank organizations and companies that are working to protect the rainforest.

9. Look at a map of the world with your parents or teacher, and point out the places where rainforests exist.

10. Look around your home for things you use or eat that originate in the rainforest; Think about how many things that we use every day originate in the rainforest, and how it would affect you if they were no longer around.

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10 Easy Ways Kids Can Help Save Rainforests

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You don't have to be big to make a big impact! Here are some great ways that kids can help save rainforests. Sign up for useful tips to green your life and protect our planet. Ask your parents to buy foods-like bananas and coffee-that are grown in a sustainable way-In a way that is safe for the environment, for wildlife, and for people.

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https://www.earthguardians.org/50simplethings/

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50 simple things (English/Spanish) - Earth Guardians

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50 Simple Things A Carbon-Cutting Action Guide

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Did you know that the world's climate is changing? Many human activities like driving cars, running factories, and generating energy release gases into our atmosphere. Because these gases trap heat from the sun close to the earth, this is causing our planet to warm!

As the global temperature warms, weather patterns have begun to change, polar ice is melting, and sea levels are rising. These changes could impact the lives of hundreds of millions of people in our lifetime!

There's a lot of information out there on climate change but we've added our favorite websites below. Click a link below to jump straight down to any section:

INFORMATION for KIDS

Begin here!

Climate Change Basics videoby the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) (3 minutes)

Read

Coral Reefs are Affected by Climate Change by UCAR (University Corporation for Atmospheric Research)

Fossil Fuels by NASA Climate Kids

The Realities of Climate Change by Scholastic Inc.

Weather vs Climate by UCAR

What is Happening in the Ocean? by NASA's Climate Kids

What is the Big Deal with Carbon? by NASA's Climate Kids

What is the Greenhouse Effect? by NASA's Climate Kids

Watch

Climate Change 101 with Bill Nye video by National Geographic (4 minutes)

Climate 101 with Bill Nye video by Climate Reality (5 minutes)

Climate Animation video by Nina Ree-Linstad (5 minutes)

Climate Change videoby BrainPop (7 minutes) (free)

Climate Change Around the World (and other videos) videos by UEN (Utah Education Network) (3 minutes)

Climate Change: Crash Course Kids #41.2 videoby Crash Course Kids (4 minutes)

Climate Change Seen in U.S. National Parks video series by United States National Park Service (each video is 3 - 10 minutes)

Fragile Environment: How We Impact Our Surroundings video series by BrianPop (each video is 3-4 minutes) (paid subscription required)

Greenhouse Effect videoby BrainPop (4 minutes) (paid subscription required)

How do Scientists Know Earth's Climate is Changing? Ice Holds the Evidence! video by the National Science Foundation (19 minutes)

Ice Melting is an Indicator that Earth is Warming video by the U.S. National Park Service (7 minutes)

Recycling Center in Action videos by ReCommunity Recycling (2-10 minutes)

The Greenhouse Effect video by the EPA (2 minutes)

Weather vs. Climate video by Teddy TV (1 minute)

What if All the Ice Melted on Earth? video by ASAP Science (6 minutes)

What is Climate Change? video by the Australian Government (3 minutes)

Explore

Simple Computer Model to Understand CO2 and Global Warming child-friendly computer modeling by the National Center for Climate Research

WHAT CAN KIDS DO?

Actions Kids Can Take by the AMNH (American Museum of Natural History)Actions

Can Kids Help? video by Gladstone Central School Greenscenes (2 minutes)

Green Tips by National Geographic Kids

Plant for the Planet video by Young Voices for the Planet (5 minutes)

Recycle by The Ad Council

Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle by National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

You Can Make a Difference video by the Utah Education Network (2 minutes)

HOPE for Earth by Kottie Christie-Blick

WHAT SHOULD ADULTS DO?

Conserving Energy videoby BrainPop (4 minutes) (paid subscription required)

Energy 101 Videos by the Department of Energy (fifteen 4-minute videos)

How the World Can Tackle Climate Change videoby the Utah Education Network (3 minutes)

Light Bulbs Matter by the National Research Council

Powering the Planet with Renewable Energy video by Earth: The Operators' Manual (53 minutes)

Reducing Your Personal Contribution to a Warming Planet by The New York Times

What We Can Do by Climate Communication

GAMES and ACTIVITES

CO2 Balancing Game by NASA's Climate Kids

Energy Kids Crossword Puzzles and Games by EIA (U.S. Energy Information Administration)

Energy Star Kids Activities by the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Hog and Seek Game by Alliance to Save Energy

Leaps and Flutters by NASA's Climate Kids

Missions to Planet Earth Online Card Game by NASA's Climate Kids

Planet Arcade by NOAA (U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

INFORMATION for OLDER STUDENTS & TEACHERS

Teachers, please note: If Kids Against Climate Change pictures/videos are not appearing when your students log on, ask your school's technology guru to remove the blocking filters for this site. All pictures and photos on this site are child-friendly.

Begin here!

Climate Change in a Nutshell by NCSE (National Center for Science Education)

Read

A Blanket Around the World by NASA

A Global Plan to Save Coral Reefs by The Ocean Agency

Background Information on Climate Change by NASA

Can We Fix Global Warming? by Skeptical Science

Climate Change: How do We Know? by NASA

CLEAN Collection of Educational Resources by the Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network

Climate Change Science by Climate Nexus

Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Science by the U.S. Global Change Research Program/Climate Change Science Program

Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming edited by Paul Hawke

Getting the Picture by Earth Vision Institute

Energy from Natural Resources by the National Academies of Sciences

Frequently Asked Questions About Climate Change by NASA

Global Warming is Happening: Fact, Myth, Fallacy by Skeptical Science

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards in the United States by Law Shelf Educational Media

Human Activities are Impacting the Climate System by CLEAN (the Climate and Literacy and Energy Awareness Network)

Interactives and Simulations by UCAR Center for Science Education

New York Uses Many Types of Renewable Energy by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Ocean Acidification's Impact on Oysters and Other Shellfish video by NOAA (6 minutes)

Ocean Chemistry videoby ACE (Alliance for Climate Education) (1 minute)

Our Changing Atmosphere: Our Warming Air Warming Planet by Earth Vision Institute

Our Changing Biosphere: Plants and Animals by Earth Vision Institute

Our Changing Hydro sphere: Ice to Oceans by Earth Vision Institute

Our Changing Planet - Impacts on People and Places by Earth Vision Institute

Planet Stewards Program free professional development for educators by NOAA

Redwoods and Climate Change video by KQED (12 minutes)

Short Answers to Hard Questions about Climate Change by The New York Times

Societal Impacts of Climate Change by NOAA

Take Aim at Climate Change video by Rapper Polar-Palooza (4 minutes)

Talking to Children about Climate Change by Kottie Christie-Blick

Teaching Climate & Energy in Middle School and High School by CLEAN (Climate Literacy & Energy Awareness Network)

Teaching Climate Literacy by NOAA

The Big Picture by Skeptical Science

The Gulf Stream Explained by Kurzgesagt

Trend vs Variation by Teddy TV

Volcanoes or Human Activity? Which Emits More CO2? by NOAA

Warmest Year on Earth in Recorded History: 2015 by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

What Drives Climate: Advanced Information by NASA

What's in a Name? Weather, Global Warming and Climate Change by NASA

For Teachers, Because I Get It

Lesson Plans to get started teaching climate - plunge right in!

Climate Change and the Next Generation Science Standards by grade level

Ice Reflectivity Experiment & Model by Kottie Christie-Blick

Ocean Acidification Experiment & Lesson Planby Kottie Christie-Blick

Ocean Influences Climate Lesson Plan by Kottie Christie-Blick

Ocean Influences Climate Model by Kottie Christie-Blick

Sea Level Rise Hands-On Activity Lesson Planby Kottie Christie-Blick

Spreading the Word About Climate Change - 25 ways to for students and teachers to disseminate climate change information. We can make a difference!

Strategies for Teaching to engage students and enhance learning

The Greenhouse Effect Game - a working model

The Greenhouse Effect Model by Kottie Christie-Blick

Twitter follow @KottieCB for up-to-date climate news the easy way

Using Models to Understand Climate Change NAAEE 2018 by Kottie Christie-Blick and Jacob Tanenbaum

Graphs & Graphics

Comparing Possible Causes of Global Warming by Bloomberg Business

Dataset Gallery by NOAA

Explaining Climate Change by BBC News

Global Temperatures and Other Climate Indicators by Climate Central

Global Warming Over Time by NASA

Ice Disappearing Around the World as Earth Warms by NASA

Keeling Curve Graph by the U.S. Department of Energy, Mauna Loa Observatory

Teaching Climate Change with Graphics by Skeptical Science

If you're a kid, join the discussion below!

Use your first name only. Use your country instead of your last name.

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Done with the comments? Move on to the next section!
What do kids know?

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Start learningWhat do kids know?What can kids do?What should adults do?Share!Did you know that the world's climate is changing? Many human activities like driving cars, running factories, and generating energy release gases into our atmosphere. Because these gases trap heat from the sun close to the earth, this is causing our planet to warm!As the...

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Can I help nature to help us?

Yes! We can all take notice of our environment. We can learn how our planet works. We can learn how to live on it without making a mess of it. We can help to keep it magnificent for ourselves, our children and grandchildren, and other living things besides us.

Some of the ways you can help may have to wait until you are a little older-like choosing an energy-efficient car, installing solar panels on the roof of your house, or choosing a "green career."

But there are many important ways you can help right now.

You can help by growing your own vegetables and fruits. You can help by planting a tree. Your new plants and trees will help to remove the greenhouse gas CO ₂ from the air. If you grow some of your own food, you will also help to prevent more CO ₂ from entering the air from the fossil-fuel-burning trucks, planes, and ships that transport your food to you from far away.

How can I reduce my "carbon footprint"?

Your carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air because of your own energy needs. You need transportation, electricity, food, clothing, and other goods. Your choices can make a difference.

Swap old incandescent light bulbs for the new compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). They use only 25% as much electricity to give the same light. They last ten times longer.

Turn off lights, TVs, computers, when you do not need them.

Unplug! Any electronic gadget you can turn on with a remote (TV, DVD player, Nintendo, Xbox) uses power even when it is "off." Appliances with a digital clock (like a coffee maker) or a power adapter (like a laptop computer) also suck power like a sneaky vampire. Plug these kinds of things into a surge protector or power strip that has an on/off switch. Then you can shut off all the power without unplugging each gadget.

There are even power strips that glow to show you how much power is going through them, and power strips you can control from your computer or iPhone.

Turn up the thermostat on the air conditioning when it's hot. Use fans if you're still hot. They use much less power.

Turn down the thermostat on the heating when it's cold. Sweaters, blankets, and socks are good for you and better for the planet.

Walk or ride your bike instead of taking a car everywhere. Even a 2-mile car trip puts 2 pounds of CO ₂ into the atmosphere!

If you must ride, carpool.

Stay out of the drive thru! When you go to a fast-food place, ask your driver to park the car and let you walk inside, rather than sitting in a line of cars with the engine running and polluting.

How can I reduce my trash pile?

Ask your parents to buy reusable grocery bags. Help them to remember to get them out of the car and take them into the store.

Recycle everything you can. If your city does not pick up recycled materials, find out who you can talk to about starting this service. You should be recycling paper, aluminum cans, cardboard, food cans, plastic, glass, newspapers, magazines, junk mail, phone books, and anything else made of paper.

Shop thrift stores. "BYOM." Bring your own mug. That's what you can tell your parents when they stop to buy their morning coffee. Use less paper whenever possible. Save the trees.

Drink tap water-filtered, if you like-instead of bottled water. Carry your drinking water in a reusable bottle. Plastic water bottles are an environmental disaster!

Use fewer containers. Buy the product that uses less packaging material. Even if you recycle packaging materials, it takes energy to create them in the first place and energy to remake them into something else.

Practice by playing "Recycle This!."

Do I need to save water too?

People and animals in many parts of the world do not have clean, safe water to drink. As many more regions are hit by drought, this problem will become even more serious. The sooner we start conserving water, the better off we all will be. Be aware of how much water you use.

Imagine you live in a recreational vehicle (RV), and your water tank holds only 50 gallons. Every time you turn on the water, the noisy electric water pump has to turn on too, sucking up your RV's battery power. Would you keep the water running while you brush your teeth? Would you spend 15 minutes in the shower using up all the water in the tank and depleting the battery? Would you plant a thirsty lawn in front of your RV if you were parked in the desert? Of course not!

How can I make a real difference?

You can choose a "green career." You can help to solve climate change problems and challenges. These are the exciting careers of the future. They range from designing satellites for NASA to fixing wind-energy generators to planning drought-tolerant landscapes for homes and parks. Many of the possible careers haven't even been thought of yet. You could invent your own career! Check out some Green Careers.

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We can do a lot, including planning for a green career.

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https://www.bdcnetwork.com/blog/public-transportation-future-four-new-sustainable-technologies

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On my way in to work this morning, I walked through a tree lined street, admired my wintry surroundings, breathed fresh air, and chatted with one of my neighbors at the bus stop. I listened to music and sent a message to my mom while waiting to transfer to the metro. A short time later I arrived at work with a clear head, and ready to start my day.

Public transportation is a new experience for me. Until a few months ago I started each day by driving 42 miles. After the hour-long drive, I would arrive at work already stressed before the day even began.

Sound familiar?

In 2014, Americans spent an average of 42 hours per year sitting in traffic jams. In Washington, DC the average was nearly double that at 82 hours per year - the worst traffic in the U.S. Seattle's commuters aren't doing much better - the Emerald City has the second-worst congestion in the U.S.

What else could you be doing with nearly three and a half days of your life?

It's no wonder use of public transportation is on the rise. Taking cars off the road, and delivering happier, less-stressed employees to the workplace is both sustainable and benefits personal wellness.

Busses and metros aren't new concepts, and the reinvention of public transportation to serve our urban environments has captured the imagination of our most brilliant innovators. The technology to radically transform the commuting experience exists and the demand is mounting.

The future is now. We explored four new technologies for public transportation that might change everything:

This new technology proposed by SpaceX's Elon Musk is capable of moving people at aircraft speeds for the price of a bus ticket. The levitated pod uses an electric motor to glide silently through a low-pressure tube. Full system testing is scheduled for 2017 with a goal to start moving passengers in 2021, with routes are under development in 5 countries. The Hyperloop is designed to operate on demand rather than a fixed schedule, reducing wait times.
Source: Picket-Lint The City of Austin is also considering building a PRT system Source: Austin Business Journal. Source: Yahoo Tech
Personal rapid transit systems currently exist in four cities; including one in Morgantown, West Virginia. Also referred to as podcars, PRT hold smaller groups of people in cars that are operated by computer using electric motors, and move on light weight tracks. Riders select their destination prior to riding, and each car only goes to their final destination without stops on the way. Fares are kept low without the need for a driver or empty trips. In Morgantown, each trip is only 50 cents. These driverless cars have been operating since 1975! Despite the long history, podcars have been slow to take off due to the cost of integrating them into an existing city landscape. Maybe the future of podcars will look more like the next technology: the self-driving bus.

The Olli is an electric mini bus launched in June 2016 in National Harbor, Maryland. This driverless bus is powered by IBM's Watson technology. Rather than operate on a fixed schedule and route, Olli is operated and paid through an app. Where ever you are, can become a bus stop. This bus is ideal for filling in the gaps in public transportation to take you that last mile from the metro stop. Thanks to the Watson technology, Olli can also have a conversation with you to provide a dinner recommendation or even tell you to bring an umbrella. Olli also had trial runs in Copenhagen, Las Vegas and Miami in late 2016.

Traffic congestion in Mexico City is intense enough that people have taken to hiring helicopters or using expensive tolled tiered highways to stay out of the fray. The residents of Mexico City are literally choking on pollution that comes from traffic congestion as authorities were forced to declare environmental emergencies to order millions of cars off the roads.

One exciting solution: Gondolas, allowing commuters to glide over traffic on the Mexicable, a seven-stop line that runs just over three miles through a furrow of poor hillside neighborhoods.

Mexicable is part of a trend in Latin America that is linking rural and urban areas through an integrated system of cable cars.

Source: NYTimes

Architects, developers, and real estate owners should consider the power of transit-oriented development - building businesses and communities in places that are pleasurable to travel to is good for business and the environment. Embrace commuting alternatives, and celebrate the innovations coming from innovators around the globe.

On my way home tonight, rather than fight traffic in my car for 42 miles, I will get through another chapter of Thriller Thirteen, followed by a short walk home from the bus stop; ready to enjoy the evening with my family. What mood will you be in when you get home?

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Public transportation of the future: Four new sustainable technologies

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On my way in to work this morning, I walked through a tree lined street, admired my wintry surroundings, breathed fresh air, and chatted with one of my neighbors at the bus stop. I listened to music and sent a message to my mom while waiting to transfer to the metro.

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Swinging around your city comes with some challenges and some joys. Every day our public transit systems are innovating in ways that make the journeys we go on more efficient, more pleasant or ideally, both. Sometimes it's easy to see what your city's transit needs, but it's what you may not think of that could be the real future of public transit. Fortunately, finding inspiration is easy with examples of amazing technological innovations around the globe. Check out what these cities are offering for the latest in public transit.

Big ol' Lille, France's Lille Metro has been chugging away with futuristic innovations since 1983. This northern France enclave, which hugs the border with Belgium, was the first public transit system anywhere to widely implement the driverless VAL system. Today driverless trains account for nearly 1 billion passengers annually in Europe, but nobody's been doing the "no driver" thing longer than the rails in Lille.

Getting wireless on public transit for free may be old hat to some, but not only do passengers on Miami-Dade's transit system get free Wi-Fi while they're moving, but the whole system is being outfitted with 300 interactive digital waypoints. The kiosks serve not only to offer waiting travelers with Wi-Fi, but they also offer continuous updated transit arrival times and provide transit officials with key data to assist in running operations smoothly. Touted as the first "truly interconnected" system, the kiosks (known as Connect305) will grow with the infrastructure over time, allowing for a seamless experience in not only transit, but interacting with government services overall.

Imagine soaring high above all the traffic and congestion below you. The people of La Paz, Bolivia don't imagine, they live it with the innovative cable car system called Mi Teleferico. The city already sits nearly three miles above sea level, so what's another few hundred feet? While they're still developing and adding lines, the cable car system cuts commute times from one hour down to ten minutes and reduces the cost of commuting-all while offering tremendous views of this city perched high in Andes.

Most public transit systems offer accommodations for patrons with disabilities, including kneeling buses, ramps for wheelchairs and verbal announcements for stops. The public transportation system in Geneva, Switzerland goes a little further and gives the power of access to anyone who needs it. Every bus is equipped with a blue or yellow button that, when pressed, turns off the automatic door closing system. Need more time step aboard? Not a problem. Kind of the way it should be.

As more and more cities increase their emphasis on sustainability, some city transit systems have run into an unexpected issue: Incompatible power systems. Not a problem for Hamburg's Hochtbern, which has partnered with Siemens to create electric bus recharging stations for models from different manufacturers. "Interoperability" is big news not just for Hamburg, but for transit systems worldwide. It means as electric systems develop, transit officials can use one central charging station for their entire fleet, no matter the manufacturer. Flexibility like this means lower costs and greater efficiency, which spells nothing but good things for riders.

It's electric. It's solar powered. It's FREE. It's Adelaide's bus of the future, running today. Hitting all the main areas in the heart of this Australian hub, the City Connector is serviced by a bus model called "Tindo which means "sun" in the aboriginal language. Efficient batteries, fast charging, and no fumes make it the perfect city carrier. It's so dang perfect it will make you wonder why we don't all do what they do down under.

It may seem hard to believe, but car-loving Los Angeles is also taking a big step in public transit innovation. The Metro's Office of Extraordinary Innovation has their hands full working on serving up MicroTransit to residents of LA County. MicroTransit, a hybrid of mass transit and ride hailing, lets passengers determine their pick up and drop off similar to a ride hailing service, but comes with a lower price-per-ride for affordability. Funding to study the option has already been secured and would up the public transit game for a population all but wedded to their cars.

Many cities have public transit apps with real-time travel updates, scheduling, and trip planning. But Vienna's WienMobil app kicks it up a notch by joining with other transport options including bike sharing, taxis and car sharing-then displaying a variety of routes while combining different modes. It doesn't stop there. Not only can you filter route planning by distance, time, and cost, but also by environmental impact. So before you head out for shopping on the Kärntner Strasse, you can find the route that is not only costs the least amount of euros, but also costs the least amount of CO2 to get there.
What other transit innovations have you seen and experienced? What would you like to have integrated into your city's infrastructure? Tell us in the comments below!

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7 Amazing Public Transit Innovations Around the Globe

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Swinging around your city comes with some challenges and some joys. Every day our public transit systems are innovating in ways that make the journeys we go on more efficient, more pleasant or ideally, both. Sometimes it's easy to see what your city's transit needs, but it's what you may not think of that could be the real future of public transit.

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This story is part of a group of stories called

Property Lines is a column by Curbed senior reporter Patrick Sisson that spotlights real estate trends and hot housing markets across the country.

Comments, tips, and suggestions on where Property Lines should head next are welcome at patrick@curbed.com.

Transportation systems don't just move people around-they can also be catalysts for moving cities forward. But too often, between state-level inertia (see: New York's inability to cope with New York City's subway crisis) and the lack of serious federal investment in infrastructure and public transportation efforts, U.S. cities face gridlock when it comes to transportation reform.

Hope tends to come from smaller-scale initiatives: In cities across the country, local politicians, transit advocates, and commute-weary citizens are responding to the need for more sustainable, equitable, street-level transit solutions, delivering on promises to make daily commutes more multimodal and connect more workers to jobs. In the year of dockless scooters and city-led climate summits, new tech is spreading rapidly, while electric vehicles are ever more widely adopted.

Curbed spoke with transit experts from the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), Overhead Wire, Smart Growth America, the Eno Center for Transportation, and the National Resource Defense Council, asking them to identify U.S. cities with progressive transit plans or intriguing proposals to solve difficult issues. None of these cities has devised the perfect transit system-and some of these ideas haven't even been realized yet-but, taken together, they show different means to make transit more effective.

Sacramento: Creating the capital of electric cars

Electric vehicles have made great strides in recent years, but even evangelists acknowledge a persistent problem: how to create cars-and infrastructure-that won't leave any electric vehicle drivers stranded or worried about finding their next charge.

A new $44 million Green City initiative in California's capital seeks to bring electric vehicles to the city's streets and build out a web of chargers and electric transit options to support them. The plan, which will begin rolling out this summer, consists of two new car-sharing services with hundreds of EVs, a pair of zero-emission electric bus lines, an on-demand electric shuttle, and 10 charging depots.

By offering more options for zero-emission rides, as well as adaptable infrastructure-new super-fast chargers, which aren't yet available commercially, work as fast as gas fill-ups-the initiative hopes to create a template for cities to plug in.

Detroit: Multimodal Ambitions in the Motor City

Detroit's revitalization has strained a transit system that's historically been underfunded and ignored. But a new vision for mobility in the city, while lacking the flash-and sky-high price tag-of other metro-area transit overhauls, promises more equitable, and eclectic, solutions.

Building on the backbone of an improved bus system-which includes new designs, stops, and a mobile app-the Strategic Plan for Transportation, drawn up by Bloomberg Associates and former New York City Department of Transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, seeks to add more car- and bike-sharing, beautify streets and alleys, and focus on partnerships with other area transit agencies. The goal is to "build a better city, one where Detroiters' opportunities are not limited by their choices for getting around," says Sadik-Khan.

Indianapolis: Rapid electric bus line brings equity

It can be challenging for small cities to afford the kind of heavy lifting that reshapes entire transit systems. But Indianapolis may accomplish just that with the introduction of its Red Line bus service next year.

Running a 13-mile path that travels within a quarter mile of roughly 150,000 jobs, this north-south route presents an axis of opportunity. In addition, the all-electric bus rapid-transit line will run every 10 minutes for much of the day, offering frequent service on a dedicated lane for a fraction of the cost of light rail. Voters believed in the project enough to raise their income taxes to fund it, and plans to roll out two additional electric BRT lines are already in the works.

Santa Monica, California: Scooter City, USA

It's hard to imagine, after months of media pandemonium, that dockless electric scooters arrived only a year ago on the West Coast. Santa Monica, home to Bird, the multibillion-dollar transit startup that helped launch the rush for micromobility, has arguably done the best to not only adapt, but take advantage of this two-wheeled trend.

In addition to recently launching a pilot program that will grade scooter services on issues like safety and social equity, Santa Monica has also used operator fees to invest in new bike lanes and transit infrastructure. By inviting both Uber and Lyft to take part in its dockless vehicles pilot program, the city now offers one of the widest arrays of car-free transit options in the country. Lyft debuted a new app there this week that will give riders transit directions as well as access to scooters.

Gainesville, Florida: Pushing a driverless shuttle pilot

High-tech innovation is usually seen as something happening in so-called tech centers. Many assume the real advancements in autonomous vehicles are only happening in places like Pittsburgh. But this Florida city has become one of a growing number of places experimenting with driverless, autonomous shuttles, small, usually electric vehicles, sometimes operating on fixed routes, with capacity for fewer than a dozen riders.

In partnership with the University of Florida and the mobility operator Transdev, Gainesville will run four different shuttles through downtown as part of a three-year pilot, all free of charge to residents. Larger cities, such as Detroit and Las Vegas, already have driverless shuttle trials and services of their own. But this trial, exploring the impact of smaller, circulator routes, shows that smart city innovation isn't a matter of a city's size.

Denver: Planning that puts pedestrians first

The population boom in Denver has exposed the gaps in the existing transit system. What's impressive about the recently submitted proposals to reshape how people get around is the strong focus on walkability.

Created at the tail end of a two-year "Denveright" outreach program, the comprehensive series of plans, which address transportation, land use, parks, and trails, seeks to connect neighborhoods by the simplest and most sustainable way to get around. According to the plan as proposed, by 2040, all 78 of the city's neighborhoods would have an environmentally friendly park within a 10-minute walk, and half of the homes within 60 of those neighborhoods would be in walking distance of transit, jobs, and retail.

In addition to focusing on walkable neighborhoods, the plan has concrete goals to reduce automobile use, cutting the share of commuters with solo car commutes to 50 percent and making sure three-quarters of residents live within a quarter-mile of reliable transit service. Achieving these aims would require political will and significant investment in infrastructure. But in an era of technological hype, it's good to see a city focus on friendly, walkable, and sustainable urbanism.

Phoenix: Using autonomous vehicles to bring riders to public transit

Ever since Waymo launched its driverless car trials in Phoenix, promoting the service with a video showing suburbanites extolling the benefits of driverless transportation, the AV startup seemed focused on everyday, even mundane, aspects of travel. That's a good thing, since new transit tech is uniquely positioned to make existing rail and bus lines even more efficient.

Last month, Waymo announced it would be partnering with Phoenix's Valley Metro to offer first-mile/last-mile rides with its fleet of hybrid Chrysler Pacifica minivans. By bookending a bus trip with autonomous shuttles, this collaboration could make public transit more desirable and orderly, all while keeping riders out of the scorching Southwest sun. As study after study shows that services like Uber and Lyft only add to urban congestion, it's promising to see tech devoted to augmenting, not overtaking, existing investments in transit.

Los Angeles: Going all in on all-electric buses

As California continues to trim its carbon emissions, transportation has emerged as the state's top source of CO2. While a lot more work needs to be done to wean the car-happy state off internal combustion engines, the city's transit agency, which operates the second-largest bus fleet in the country behind New York City, has made a commitment to clean up.

Metro's push toward swapping out its entire 2,200-vehicle fleet with quieter, cleaner-running electric models by 2030 will not only modernize transit and help build out charging infrastructure, but will save the city money, roughly $11.2 million over the 12-year lifetime of a vehicle. The push isn't without problems- many early electric models purchased by Chinese maker BYD have proven to have mechanical issues and poor performance-but if realized, it will show the value of embracing electric transit. The state may soon follow; the California Air Resources Board recently proposed the entire state only purchase zero-emission transit vehicles starting in 2029.

Seattle: An all-of-the-above approach to better transit

The home of Amazon has long been held up as a poster child for the ills of tech-fueled development. While it's still coming to grips with housing costs and homelessness, Seattle has become an oft-cited model for building a more functional and diverse transit system. The city's playbook for new mobility has focused on adding high-capacity rail and bus lines and expanding cycling options to accommodate a growing downtown, and there's evidence the work has paid off.

More than 70 percent of weekday trips to downtown aren't in a private vehicle, thanks to the city's Commute Trip Reduction initiative, and significant investment in new transit options, including the 62-mile ST3 rail plan, will strengthen a growing mass transit system. Seattle has even bucked the trend of decreasing bus ridership, expanding and improving service at a time when other cities struggle to maintain rider numbers.

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9 cities with smart ideas to improve transportation

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Property Lines is a column by Curbed senior reporter Patrick Sisson that spotlights real estate trends and hot housing markets across the country. Comments, tips, and suggestions on where Property Lines should head next are welcome at patrick@curbed.com. Transportation systems don't just move people around-they can also be catalysts for moving cities forward.

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When it comes to futuristic transportation, self-driving cars are just the beginning. Whether traveling by ground, water, or air, the ways we might get around in the future are approaching the stuff of sci-fi fantasy. These projects are worth keeping an eye on (though some are more likely to actually happen than others).

1. HYPERLOOP

Is there nothing Tesla exec Elon Musk can't do? It seems that his vision of a superfast train system that can speed you from LA to San Francisco in just 30 minutes is soon becoming a reality, thanks to a series of competitions being held by SpaceX. With linear induction motors and air compressors that help you glide on an air cushion at an astounding 760 mph, Hyperloop also promises to be cheaper, quieter, and potentially much faster than a maglev train.

2. "STRADDLING BUS"

China is already planning to implement this innovative solution to urban congestion and pollution. The beauty of Transit Explore Bus is that it makes use of already existing infrastructure in Beijing, with two lane-wide " straddling buses " that can transport up to 1400 individuals and travel up to 40 mph. The buses roll above highways on track lines 7 feet above street level and positioned between lanes of traffic, thus allowing passengers to hop on and off at elevated bus stops with ease.

3. EVACUATED TUBE TRANSPORT (ETT)

Imagine being sucked through a frictionless tube from New York to Beijing in two hours. Using superconducting maglev trains at speeds up to a little over 4000 mph, ET3 Global Alliance's pod could be 50 times faster than electric trains. It puts a whole new spin on the possibilities of super-fast transport, not to mention other lifestyle areas including global backpacking and even long-distance dating!

4. SHWEEB

Die-hard bikers, relax: You won't be left out in the future of public transit. Google has already invested $1 million in Shweeb, a human-powered monorail system employing bicycle pods. The project was one of 150,000 ideas submitted to Google's Project 10^100 in 2010. While we're still eagerly anticipating Shweeb's first planned location, you can already pedal your way up to 28 miles/hour at Agroventures in New Zealand-on your own steam, of course.

5. UNIDENTIFIED FLOATING OBJECT (U.F.O.)

Who wouldn't covet the freedom of water-jetting around the Maldives at a leisurely 3.5 knots, and in their own UFO-shaped yacht? Especially when amenities include a vegetable garden and running track on deck, as well as an underwater viewing platform below? If you don't feel like exhausting the electric motor to power your home, you can also opt for alternative energy sources via solar panels and wind/water turbines attached above and below the main UFO disc. In addition, there's a water generator that can be used for converting rain and seawater into fresh drinkable water. Sounds like smooth sailing to us.

6. DEEPFLIGHT DRAGON

This personal submarine designed by engineer Graham Hawkes applies the latest aircraft technology to transform you into an explorer of the boundless ocean. DeepFlight Dragon holds up to two individuals and has a system that handles decision-making, allowing for users to pilot the craft without much training. Once underwater, the Dragon hovers and glides around easily due to its stable quadcopter drone technology. Its super-efficient energy source-a tiny 15 Kilowatt-hour battery pack-lasts six hours between charges. All of this fun doesn't come cheap: DeepFlight Dragon has a hefty price tag of $1.5 million. Even though DeepFlight's stabilization software is still being tweaked and tested, we're already prepping a Spotify playlist for a first joyride.

7. HOVERBIKE

Expect to beat traffic by flying above it on your daily work commute on this flying motorbike. Based on the same flying principles as a tandem-rotor Chinook helicopter, movement is controlled through motorcycle-like handle grips. According to creator Chris Malloy, the Hoverbike should be able to reach an estimated height of more than 10,000 feet and reach an airspeed of 173 mph. Easy rider, indeed.

8. TF-X FLYING CAR

For those with a family, this flying car might be a better bet than the Hoverbike. Described by Boston-based company Terragfugia as "a four-seat hybrid with wings" driven by a 300-hp engine and two rotating 600-hp "pods," the TF-X will still fit in your garage. Terrafugia also claims that the TF-X will have a top airspeed of 200 mph with a range of 500 miles and an average lifespan of eight to 12 years.

That said, Terrafugia has yet to pinpoint a release date-but its main competitor, AeroMobil, is expected to launch its own flying vehicle in 2017 (though there will likely be a postponement due to a recent test flight crash). The most successful contender might actually turn out be PAL-V Europe NV's two-seat hybrid car and gyroplane, which successfully completed a maiden flight back in 2012, and just nabbed an exclusive patent in India.

9. MARTIN JETPACK

Here's your chance to finally joyride through the skies like Rocket Man, Iron Man, or a Jetson-or, if you're scared of heights, Martin Jetpack can also be flown unmanned via remote control. If you actually decide to go solo pilot, no worries; one of the safety features includes a ballistic parachute that opens as low as 20 feet above the ground. Martin expects to have a "personal jetpack" on the market by 2017 at $200,000 a pop.

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9 Alternative Methods of Transit For the Future

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When it comes to futuristic transportation, self-driving cars are just the beginning. Whether traveling by ground, water, or air, the ways we might get around in the future are approaching the stuff of sci-fi fantasy. These projects are worth keeping an eye on (though some are more likely to actually happen than others).

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Until all-electric cars are able to improve significantly in performance, you may need another, more practical option in the meantime. That's where hybrid vehicles come into play. Examples such as the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius are popular as eco-friendly alternatives to the traditional car that need less fuel, but are still reliable and perform decently.

A hybrid vehicle has a gasoline engine, as well as an electric motor and batteries for storing power. By combining the two kinds, drivers get the best of both worlds. For instance, engines running on gas are inefficient at low speeds, so the electric motor can take over at those times, whereas the gas engine can be there when you need more power. Remember to balance the better gas mileage against the higher initial cost of the vehicle.

Related Articles

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Top 10 Alternative Transportation Methods

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Until all-electric cars are able to improve significantly in performance, you may need another, more practical option in the meantime. That's where hybrid vehicles come into play. Examples such as the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius are popular as eco-friendly alternatives to the traditional car that need less fuel, but are still reliable and perform decently.

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Watch our three-minute video to learn about the purpose and components of the Climate Resilience Toolkit, or scroll down to explore features of the site.

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Banner photo: Jim Wright/LightHawk

Overview

Today, New Jersey faces a changing climate, specifically accelerating sea level rise and more frequent and intense coastal storms. These challenges, and others, place both coastal habitats and communities at risk. Storms like Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Irene have brought attention to the need to increase the resiliency of our coastal communities. Superstorm Sandy resulted in over $50 billion in damage, with more than half-$37 billion-in New Jersey. New Jersey is considered a hot spot for sea level rise, and nuisance flooding.

Federal, state, and local governments along with residents, face difficult choices on how best to manage an ever-changing coast. To reduce risk for coastal communities, proper planning and tools are needed to make better policy, management, and conservation decisions for the benefit of people and nature.

Coastal Resilience Tool-kit

The Nature Conservancy and its partners have developed a collection of web-based tools that empower communities to identify nature-based solutions to coastal hazards. Applications such as the Restoration Explorer and Future Habitat, allow users to visualize current and future conditions and explore a range of options for addressing coastal hazards in a way that also promotes healthy coastal habitats.

Restoration Explorer

The Restoration Explorer is a web-based decision support tool, that empowers communities to visualize what types of "Living Shoreline" techniques may be appropriate at a given location along the coast. Living Shorelines are an alternative approach to shoreline stabilization, using natural elements like native vegetation, dunes, and oyster reefs to buffer the shoreline from the effects of waves and currents, while maintaining the inter tidal connection between land and water. Traditional shoreline protection techniques like bulkheads and sea-walls (so-called hardened shorelines) reflect wave energy into the surrounding environment causing scour and damage to aquatic habitats. As more and more of our shoreline becomes "hardened", these habitats eventually disappear, along with the benefits they provide.

The Restoration Explorer combines engineering criteria developed by The Stevens Institute of Technology and geo-spatial data on current shoreline conditions from Rutgers University, to help communities visualize where a living shoreline project may be appropriate. For more info on how to use the Restoration Explorer check out the User Guide, which contains step-by-step instructions on how it works. You can also view a short video tutorial here.

Shoreline enhancement projects have a variety of ecological and engineering requirements and can often be mixed and matched to tailor project designs to local conditions. At times, they can also be combined with more traditional hardened structures. It is important to consult with ecologists and engineers to determine the specific design requirements for any proposed project. It is also important to consult with Federal, State, and local officials regarding permitting requirements.

Future Habitat App

Habitats like salt marshes have the ability to move further inland as sea-level rises. This depends on several factors including: the amount of sediment accumulating on the marsh, the rate of sea level rise, and whether or not there are physical obstacles preventing wetlands from moving inland. By depicting various tidal marsh advancement scenarios, the Future Habitat App allows communities to better understand where marshes may be lost in the future.

Resources

For the latest reports, papers and other publications on coastal resilience in New Jersey visit the Coastal Resilience Resource Library on the Conservation Gateway. Click here to be redirected to the Resource Library for the latest reports, papers and other publications on coastal resilience in New Jersey.

New Jersey Coastal Resilience Mapping and Decision Support Tool

A Community Resource Guide for Planning Living Shorelines Projects. Doerr, P. The Nature Conservancy, New Jersey Chapter. Delmont, NJ. (2016)

A Guide for Incorporating Ecosystem Service Valuation into Coastal Restoration Projects. Schuster, E. and Doerr, P.The Nature Conservancy, New Jersey Chapter. Delmont, NJ. (2015)

Lower Cape May Meadows Ecological Restoration: Analysis of Economic and Social Benefits. Schuster, E. The Nature Conservancy, New Jersey Chapter. Delmont, NJ.(2014)

Ecosystem Services of South Cape May Meadows

The South Cape May Meadows project, completed in 2007, included restoring the beach, dune, and wetland as well as installing a water management system. To show how important it has been, we completed an economic study of the South Cape May Meadows restoration and our results uniquely provide data showing that nature has real value. That value comes in the form of flooding protection in Cape May Point, which will be at least $2,000,000 and could be as high as $17,300,000 in damages avoided to homes over the next 50 years. Even more, given that it restored prime habitat for migratory birds, South Cape May Meadows also brings in an estimated $313 million in additional revenue each year from birders visiting the area. The South Cape May Meadows restoration reinforces that healthy natural landscapes benefit our communities in many ways, including financially, and that investing in nature pays off.

Links to relevant Cool Green Science Blogs
http://blog.nature.org/science/2014/08/13/ecological-restoration-birds-birders-economic-development-nature/ http://blog.nature.org/science/2014/08/14/ecological-restoration-coastal-nature-flooding-resilience/
Gandy's Beach Oyster Reef Breakwater

Natural features, like oyster reefs, can play an important role for coastal communities that are dealing with challenges like storm-related erosion and flooding. We've teamed up with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and Rutgers University Haskin Shellfish Research Lab to install a living shoreline consisting of an oyster reef breakwater at TNC's Gandy's Beach Preserve along the Delaware Bay. The project involves planning, engineering, construction, and monitoring of nearly 3,000 feet of oyster reef to help reduce local erosion problems and enhance habitat for species like horseshoe crabs and red knots.

The reef was constructed from a combination of materials, including "oyster castles," stackable, interlocking blocks of concrete that encourage oysters to attach and grow, as well as bagged oyster shells collected as part of a shell recycling program with Dock's Oyster House in Atlantic City.

The oyster reef breakwaters provide a multitude of benefits, including filtering water, providing habitat for commercial and recreational fisheries, and reducing the energy of waves as they move towards shore, which means less erosion for the coastline. The benefits will continue to grow as the oyster reef becomes "self-sustaining," meaning it will continue to grow each year as oyster larvae settle and mature. New oysters will attach and grow on our reefs, building the population of oysters at the site for years.

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Banner photo: Jim Wright/LightHawk Today, New Jersey faces a changing climate, specifically accelerating sea level rise and more frequent and intense coastal storms. These challenges, and others, place both coastal habitats and communities at risk. Storms like Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Irene have brought attention to the need to increase the resiliency of our coastal communities.

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During the past several years the Department of Environmental Protection has worked within the coastal zone to reduce the impacts of flooding, both in the short-term and with an eye toward the future. The Bureau of Climate Resilience Planning has worked with towns through its local and regional planning initiatives to understand the potential impacts of climate change and coastal hazards and has established a living shoreline program and guidance that would increase the use of nature-based solutions in coastal resiliency projects.

The Bureau of Flood Resilience is advancing the Rebuild by Design Projects in the Meadowlands and in the City of Hoboken, Jersey City and Weehawken. The Division of Coastal Engineering has worked on projects to stabilize the shoreline, reduce damages from coastal storms and reduce flood impacts. The Blue Acres program has been working with communities to purchase flood-prone properties and restore the land to natural floodplain. These efforts, as well as other initiatives within the DEP and those efforts at other agencies, have helped to reduce the impacts of future storm events.

However, the DEP also recognizes that siloed planning, mitigation and restoration activities across the coastal zone will be limited in their effectiveness to address sea-level rise, future storm events and other flood-related threats to the coastal zone. To address these significant challenges, the DEP held the Coastal Resilience Summit to begin work on a Coastal Resilience Plan.

In recognition of the scientific community's consensus on the current and anticipated impacts of climate change in addition to New Jersey's vulnerability to them, and the necessity to coordinate and integrate climate change considerations into planning and decision-making at all levels of government to make New Jersey more resilient and foster adaptation to the effects of climate change, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 89 on October 29th, 2019 to establish a Statewide Climate Change Resilience Strategy (CCRS) to make New Jersey more resilient to climate change. As part of the CCRS, the DEP is directed to develop the Coastal Resilience Plan (CRP) that addresses the issues specific to New Jersey's coastal zone.

The CRP is the first step for the DEP to evaluate how its policies and programs allow for local, regional and state response to climate change within the coastal zone to ensure future generations of New Jerseyans are protected from the risks of climate change and flooding..

The plan will guide policies, regulations, resource allocation and funding in the coastal zone to: reduce the impacts of coastal hazards; increase resilience for structures, infrastructure systems, environmental resources, and coastal communities; address the needs of socially vulnerable populations; and attract equitable and sustainable investment.

We want to hear from you!

We are just getting started. This webpage will be updated regularly with new information on development of the plan and ways to get involved. We want to know what you want to see from this plan. How should the DEP work with communities, various sectors and other agencies to reduce flood risk in the coastal zone? Email us: coastalresilience@nj.dep.gov

New Jersey's Coastal Zone

New Jersey has more than 1,800 miles of coastline from the New York border to the head of tide along the Delaware River. The coastal zone covers 3,218 square miles and comprises 239 communities. It includes all areas covered under the Coastal Area Facility Review Act, the Waterfront Development Area and the New Jersey Meadowlands District.

Approximately 53 percent of New Jersey's total population resides in the coastal zone, with thousands more visiting cities, towns, beaches, parks and other popular locations every day. The coastal zone features thousands of attractive destinations; indeed, New Jersey's tourism industry is a multi-billion-dollar economic engine, and various other sectors rely on waterfront access as well. The communities in this region are diverse and encompass characteristics of all New Jersey communities from large urbanized cities adjacent to New York City, to shore towns, to tiny hamlets surrounded by undeveloped land.

This rich, diverse area faces significant threats and challenges in the face of a changing climate and rising seas. Areas within the coastal zone are already vulnerable to inundation from tides, coastal storms and rain events. Although there have been various studies to identify the vulnerability of several communities or specific resources within the coastal zone, no study has comprehensively evaluated the potential impacts of sea-level rise and future coastal storm events on the coastal zone.

Planning for a Resilient Coast

The DEP will develop a Coastal Resilience Plan and tools to move New Jersey forward in preparing for sea-level rise and coastal storms. The plan will evaluate policies, programs, and regulations that must be modified or created to reduce risk, increase coordination across and within agencies, improve awareness and support local municipalities in achieving adaptation. It will identify existing and new strategies that will reduce physical, economic, and social risk to flood events, enhance state and local capabilities, and encourage innovative solutions to the complex challenges of rising sea levels. The plan will not prescribe projects for every reach of the shoreline but is intended as a first step to put New Jersey on a path to resilience. The plan will focus on four primary goals:

reduce risk from flooding in the coastal zone

improve awareness and understanding of coastal hazards

create consistent guidance for resilience and adaptation

make adaptation easier

The DEP has undertaken numerous coastal resilience efforts during the past several decades in an effort to protect life, reduce coastal storm damage to property and preserve New Jersey's vital coastal resources. This critical work is made possible through state and federal funding and in cooperation with various coastal municipalities and other partners.

The plan will highlight recent and ongoing projects and efforts that have increased resilience in the coastal zone. The plan will also include short-term, medium-term and long-term strategies for increasing physical, social and economic resilience within the coastal zone, specifically addressing environmental resources, infrastructure and communities.

The DEP recognizes that individuals, communities and agencies face many challenges when working toward becoming more resilient and adapting to sea-level rise, coastal hazards and flooding. The Coastal Resilience Plan will highlight and address challenges of state and local agencies as well as those faced by socially vulnerable populations and disadvantaged communities.

Using the best available science is one of the DEP's core principles. To plan for future conditions, it is imperative to fully understand the coastal zone in terms of current environmental resources, infrastructure, communities and socio-economic conditions. Through this planning effort, the state will increase its understanding of the resources within the coastal zone and how they might be affected by sea-level rise, coastal hazards and flooding, and the cost of inaction to address the threats facing the coastal zone.

The plan seeks to develop resources and recommendations for a communications campaign to inform key decision-makers, investors and the public. It will be geared toward increasing knowledge and awareness of coastal hazards through multiple platforms and audiences.

Development of the plan will include a review of existing regulations, policies and programs to determine where new or revised policy is necessary to foster innovative strategies to address sea-level rise and future storms. The plan will include recommendations for policies and programs that enhance environmental resources, support local decision-making and local resiliency efforts, promote data sharing and increased collaboration across agencies and levels of government, and inform future land use and sustainable economic development.

The plan will recommend a consistent, but flexible, set of standards and guidance based on climate science addressing future conditions.

The plan will outline recommendations to increase the availability and effectiveness of guidance, technical assistance, financial assistance and planning support provided to communities as they seek to improve local adaptation, mitigation and resiliency efforts.

Given that it is increasingly recognized that the populations most affected by coastal hazards are not frequently present during hazard mitigation plan updates, emergency response planning and long-term planning. The needs of those who are least able to prepare, respond and recover from these events will be included in a Coastal Resilience Plan to ensure that the state is improving its social resilience along with its physical and economic resilience.

The plan will identify opportunities to leverage innovative partnerships, novel finance mechanisms and other resources that the state and communities can use to accomplish the plan's goals and objectives.

Get Involved!

To ensure this planning effort succeeds, it must respond to the needs of New Jersey's residents. The DEP welcomes your involvement, insight and knowledge throughout the planning process.

Send us an e-mail: coastalresilience@dep.nj.gov
Join our Listserv: Follow the DEP and the Coastal Management Program on Social Media

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During the past several years the Department of Environmental Protection has worked within the coastal zone to reduce the impacts of flooding, both in the short-term and with an eye toward the future.

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Search our Field Guide for in-depth information about New Jersey's endangered, threatened, and special concern species.

Browse our comprehensive list of over 200 rare species in New Jersey including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and fish.

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New Jersey Endangered and Threatened Species Field Guide

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Search our Field Guide for in-depth information about New Jersey's endangered, threatened, and special concern species. Browse our comprehensive list of over 200 rare species in New Jersey including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and fish.

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New Jersey's Endangered and Threatened Wildlife

The lists of New Jersey's endangered and threatened wildlife species are maintained by the Division of Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP). These lists are used to determine protection and management actions necessary to ensure the survival of the state's endangered, threatened and other nongame wildlife. See the Species Status Assessment page for information on the listing process.

This work is made possible through voluntary contributions received through Check-off donations to the Endangered Wildlife Conservation Fund on the State Income Tax Form, the sale of Conserve Wildlife License Plates, and donations.

To report a sighting of endangered or threatened wildlife, use the Rare Wildlife Sighting Report Form.

Endangered Species are those whose prospects for survival in New Jersey are in immediate danger because of a loss or change in habitat, over-exploitation, predation, competition, disease, disturbance or contamination. Assistance is needed to prevent future extinction in New Jersey.

Threatened Species are those who may become endangered if conditions surrounding them begin to or continue to deteriorate.

There are other classifications for wildlife as well, including Stable, Species of Special Concern and Undetermined. For a complete listing of species monitored by the ENSP, see the Species Status Listing on the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ website.

Species names in the tables below link to PDF documents containing identification, habitat and status and conservation information. For more detailed descriptions, photographs, and range maps of New Jersey's endangered, threatened, and special concern species, please refer to the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ's on-line field guide.

BIRDS

Endangered

Threatened

Bittern, American BR

Eagle, bald NB

Falco peregrinus BR

Egret, cattle BR

Kestrel, American

Falco sparverius

Grebe, pied-billed BR

Podilymbus podiceps BR

Lark, horned BR

Buteo lineatus BR

Night-heron, yellow-crowned

Nyctanassa violacea

Owl, barred

Strix varia

Charadrius melodus**

Owl, long-eared

Asio otus

Rail, black NB

Sandpiper, upland

Batramia longicauda

Sparrow, Henslow's

Ammodramus henslowii

Pooecetes gramineus BR

**Federally endangered or threatened

BR - Breeding population only; NB - non-breeding population only

REPTILES

Endangered

Threatened

Snake, corn

Elaphe g. guttata

Chelonia mydas**

Snake, queen
Regina septemvittata
Turtle, wood

Glyptemys insculpta

Glyptemys muhlenbergii**

**Federally endangered or threatened

AMPHIBIANS

Endangered

Threatened

Nicrophorus americanus**

Baskettail, robust(dragonfly)

Epitheca spinosa

Cincindela d. dorsalis**

Clubtail, banner (dragonfly)

Gomphus apomyius

Copper, bronze
Lycaena hyllus
Clubtail, harpoon (dragonfly)

Gomphus descriptus

Floater, brook (mussel)
Alasmidonta varicosa
Elfin, frosted (butterfly)

Callophrys irus

Floater, green (mussel)
Lasmigona subviridis
Emerald, Kennedy's (dragonfly)

Somatochlora kennedyi

Petaltail, gray (dragonfly)
Tachopteryx thoreyi
Floater, triangle (mussel)

Alasmidonta undulata

Neonympha m. mitchellii**

Fritillary, silver-bordered (butterfly)

Bolaria selene myrina

Skipper, arogos (butterfly)
Atrytone arogos arogos
Jewelwing, superb (dragonfly)

Calopteryx amata

Skipper, Appalachian grizzled (butterfly)
Pyrgus wyandot
Lampmussel, eastern (mussel)

Lampsilis radiata

Alasmidonta heterodon**
Lampmussel, yellow (mussel)

Lampsilis cariosa

Mucket, tidewater (mussel)

Leptodea ochracea

Snaketail, brook, (dragonfly)

Ophiogomphus asperses

**Federally endangered or threatened

FISH

Endangered

Sturgeon, Atlantic**

Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus**

**Federally Endangered

List updated 4/2/12
The lists of New Jersey's endangered and nongame wildlife species are maintained by the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species Program. These lists are used to determine protection and management actions necessary to ensure the survival of the state's endangered and nongame wildlife.

This work is made possible through voluntary contributions received through Check-off donations to the Endangered Wildlife Conservation Fund on the State Income Tax Form, the sale of Conserve Wildlife License Plates, and donations. For more information about the Endangered and Nongame Species Program or to report a sighting of endangered or threatened wildlife, contact the Endangered and Nongame Species, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, Mail Code 501-03, PO Box 420, Trenton, NJ 08625-0420.

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NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife - State Endangered and Threatened Species

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New Jersey's Endangered and Threatened Wildlife The lists of New Jersey's endangered and threatened wildlife species are maintained by the Division of Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP). These lists are used to determine protection and management actions necessary to ensure the survival of the state's endangered, threatened and other nongame wildlife.

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What You Can Do

From the Highlands to Cape May, New Jersey is home to a great diversity of natural resources that support human communities as well as fish and wildlife populations. Conservation of these resources is a responsibility shared among governments, non-government organizations, and indviduals. New Jersey's residents and visitors - YOU - can make a difference! Here are some ideas how you can help conserve fish and wildlife and the habitats that support them.

Overwhelmed by information overload? Keep it simple . . . Do One Thing!

Respect Wildlife and Laws to Protect It

Respect native species and work to conserve their habitats.

Report suspected violations of environmental laws to the NJDEP Hotline at 1-877-WARNDEP. Learn more about wildlife laws administered by New Jersey and the Service.

Protect Natural Lands

Make a Small Change to Have a Big Impact

Buy a Duck Stamp. Proceeds support wetland conservation and your local National Wildlife Refuge.

Support the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) through the license plate and income tax check-off programs. The ENSP is responsible for the protection and management of nearly 500 wildlife species found in the State, including the 78 species currently State-listed as endangered or threatened. The license plate and income tax check-off programs are the primary source of funding for the ENSP. Support the Conserve Wildlife Foundation, another major source of assistance to the ENSP.

Improve Habitat on Your Property or in Your Community

Keep it Clean

Reduce pollution. Environmental contaminants are a threat to many species.

Avoid using polluting household chemicals, especially pesticides and lawn fertilizers.

Dispose of all chemicals, including used oils and paints, properly - never down the sink or stormdrain.

Conserve energy around the house to reduce pollution and save money. See EPA's web sites Reduce Air Pollution and Energy Star web sites. Get energy saving ideas customized for your own house at Home Energy Saver.

Try some of EPA's Green Vehicle Guide for tips to save fuel and protect air quality.

See the EPA's web sites on Pollution Prevention and Waste.

If you have a septic system, make sure it is properly maintained.

Conserve water. See these tips from the EPA and Use It Wisely.

Look for ways to reduce your "carbon footprint" - that is your contribution to global climate change. See these carbon calculators from EPA and The Nature Conservancy, and EPA's What You Can Do page.

Volunteer

Enjoy the Outdoors

Enjoy wildlife and plants through outdoor recreation. Remember to leave natural areas as you found them.

Learn More

Connect Kids with Nature

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New Jersey Field Office - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

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From the Highlands to Cape May, New Jersey is home to a great diversity of natural resources that support human communities as well as fish and wildlife populations. Conservation of these resources is a responsibility shared among governments, non-government organizations, and indviduals. New Jersey's residents and visitors - YOU - can make a difference!

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The ability to preserve open space in New Jersey plays a crucial role in our ability to protect native wildlife species. This undisturbed land provides habitat, food and water that is vital to the survival of many New Jersey species, specifically those that are at-risk. The Preserved Open Space Saves Wildlife initiative allows Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey to educate New Jersey citizens on the importance of protecting these open spaces. We are proud to partner with Green Acres and NJ Keep it Green on this initiative.

Green Acres, a program within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection, was created in 1961 to meet New Jersey's growing recreation and conservation needs. Since its creation, more than 650,000 acres of open space has been protected and over $3.3 billion has been authorized to help fund Green Acres and its mission to preserve New Jersey's land.

NJ Keep It Green represents more than 185 statewide, local and regional organizations committed to working together to sustain funding for the preservation and stewardship of New Jersey's waterways, wildlife habitat, natural areas, farmland, forests, parks and historic sites.

The critical link between preserving open space and protecting wildlife is often overlooked. While many people recognize the economic, recreational, and agricultural value of open space, they may not realize that the habitat protected sustains many of the state's most treasured wildlife species. Preserved open space provides the sources of food, water, and shelter that many animals rely on to survive. If these natural lands were to be developed, habitats may become fragmented, making it difficult for animals to move through the landscape to find the resources they need.

The preservation and stewardship of open space sustains diverse wildlife populations in a great variety of habitats throughout the state by safeguarding vulnerable species against a myriad of threats, including steady urbanization, a dense network of roads, and a changing climate, making it increasingly important to protect land.

New Jersey is a leader in preserving open space for conservation. With the help of the Green Acres program, NJ Keep It Green, and public and nonprofit partners, we can work towards conserving the wildlife of New Jersey.

We would like to personally thank D&R Greenway Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy of New Jersey, New Jersey Audubon, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, and The Trust for Public Land for their commitment to preserving open spaces in New Jersey as members of NJ Keep It Green.

Featured Projects:
Mercer County, NJ

Photo by: Friends for the Abbott Marshlands
D&R Greenway Land Trust, along with Friends for the Abbott Marshlands and public entities who are property owners of the Marshlands, worked together to have Abbott Marshlands be declared as an open space in 2010.

The Abbott Marshlands is an oasis surrounded by urban development. The area is covered in lush marsh and swampland, tidal streams, ponds, beaver dams, tree-dotted islands, and wooded uplands. The Marshlands act as an important habitat for over 200 resident and seasonal bird species in addition to dozens of mammals, amphibians and reptiles.
Location: Cape May County, NJ

Photo by: Dam Noe, The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy acquired the 180-acre Cape Island Creek in 2000 and was able to establish the Garrett Family Preserve at the site in 2013.

The preserve is a haven for migrating songbirds, raptors, and pollinators like bumblebees and monarch butterflies due to its native wildflower meadows, successional fields and tall tree lines. Many shorebirds, fish species and fiddler crabs thrive in the saltwater tidal marsh.
Salem County, NJ

Photo by: Jean Lynch, New Jersey Audubon
Since 2009, New Jersey Audubon has planned and implemented habitat enhancement projects throughout Salem River Wildlife Management Area. New Jersey Audubon partners to care for this preserve with the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, the William Penn Foundation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Corporate Wetlands Restoration Program, the DuPont Clear into the Future Program, the Wildlife Management Institute, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local farmers.

The Salem River Wildlife Management Area provides habitat for priority wildlife species. Forested areas in the Salem Wildlife Management Area provide important breeding, stopover, and wintering habitat for songbirds and raptors and can provide young forest habitat for other species with specific habitat management needs, such as the American woodcock.
Sussex & Warren County, NJ

Photo by: Clem Piori, New Jersey Conservation Foundation
New Jersey Conservation Foundation helped preserve the 850-acre property of Kittatinny Ridge.

The largely undeveloped mountains, forest, meadows and wetlands range from New York's Shawangunk Mountains to the Delaware River. Kittatinny's forested ridges provide critical habitat for wildlife. The area is an important migratory corridor for bald eagles, peregrine falcons, bobcat, hummingbirds, osprey, wood ducks, kingfishers and all owls, hawks and swallows.
Ocean County, NJ

365 acres of Good Luck Point was purchased and preserved by The Trust for Public Land in 1999. They then purchased an additional 211 acres in 2003.

Good Luck Point's tidal salt marsh is an important habitat area for bird migration and wintering spot along the Atlantic Flyway. It also acts as a nesting habitat for coastal songbirds, such as Salt Marsh and Seaside Sparrows, and feeding grounds for many species of ducks, geese, herons and egrets.

Discover more open spaces:

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Preserved Open Space Saves Wildlife - NJ Keep it Green - Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ

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The ability to preserve open space in New Jersey plays a crucial role in our ability to protect native wildlife species. This undisturbed land provides habitat, food and water that is vital to the survival of many New Jersey species, specifically those that are at-risk.

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Recycling Information

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Recycling Your Way to Zero Waste

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By MICHELE S. BYERS
NJ Conservation Foundation

Trash seems to be an inevitable part of life in our modern culture. But is it possible to reduce your garbage by half? How about 75 percent ... or even all of it?

New Jersey has always been in the forefront of trash reduction. In April 1987, this state we're in became the first in the nation to require recycling. But some people are going further.

Proponents of the "zero waste" movement say it's possible to create so little trash that you can eliminate garbage cans and curbside pickups. Some zero waste devotees manage to fit an entire year's worth of trash in one small glass jar!

In nature, there is no waste. All materials -- dead trees, animal remains -- break down naturally and become resources for other creatures. The idea behind the zero waste movement is to do the same with our trash and send nothing to landfalls and incinerators.

But saying goodbye to garbage takes lots of planning and tough choices, including recycling, composting, reusing or repurposing everything you would otherwise throw away. But even if you can't go trash-free, just about everyone can reduce their waste!

Here are a few tips:

º Avoid one-use items like plastic shopping bags and bottles. Bring reusable tote bags and containers to stores, use refillable water bottles and buy products with minimal packaging.

º Compost food waste, as well as grass clippings and leaves. Invest in an indoor composter, or simply start an outdoor compost pile. Try vermiculture and feed your scraps to worms.

º Recycle everything possible. You may be surprised how many everyday items don't need to go in the trash.

Most recycling programs pick up the basics: glass, aluminum cans, plastics, newspapers, magazines, loose paper and metal cans. Many offer electronics recycling and household hazardous waste collections.

But what about the items recycling programs don't accept?

That's where a Trenton-based business called TerraCycle comes in. Founder Tom Szaky started his business in 2002 by turning biodegradable food waste into "worm poop" fertilizer packaged in recycled plastic soda bottles. Before long, TerraCycle carved out a new business by recycling waste items previously considered non-recyclable.

TerraCycle partners with food, beverage, cosmetics and cleaning supply manufacturers to offer free recycling of many types of packaging - including food and drink pouches, toothpaste tubes, snack bags, lipstick cases, toothbrushes, drinking water filters and plastic cups. The company separates plastic items by composition, then shreds and melts them into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new products.

The company also sells "Zero Waste Boxes," which are especially popular with schools and businesses that want to responsibly dispose of hard-to-recycle items. These boxes are used for dozens of items, including coffee capsules, disposable gloves and even chewing gum and cigarette butts. Part of the proceeds from sales of TerraCycle boxes is donated to charitable organizations.

To sign up for TerraCycle's free recycling programs, go to www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades. To learn about buying Zero Waste Boxes, go to https://zerowasteboxes.terracycle.com.

You can also make sure your old clothing, furniture and other household items don't end up in a landfill. Donate them to a thrift shop, give them away through a local "Freecycle" organization, hold a garage sale, or sell items online or at a consignment shop. If you're crafty or artistic, unleash your creativity and "upcycle" them on your own!

According to the state Department of Environmental Protection, as of 2015 New Jerseyans recycled 43 percent of their residential waste. This is above the national average of 34 percent, and within reach of the state's longstanding goal of a 50 percent -- but so much more is possible!

The state is offering a new app called "Recycle Coach" to residents for free to help figure out when and how to recycle.

Recycle Coach provides information about recycling programs in your area. You can access your town's schedule, find out which materials are accepted for recycling or set alerts so you never miss recycling day! Recycle Coach also answers questions about recycling and suggests do-it-yourself projects for repurposing unneeded stuff. To find out more about Recycle Coach, go to https://recyclecoach.com.

So what are you waiting for? Why not up your recycling game and reduce your waste?

To find out more, search "zero waste" on the internet or any social media platform. You'll find plenty of groups and individuals sharing their own experiences and offering helpful tips.

And to learn more about preserving New Jersey's land and natural resources, visit the New Jersey Conservation Foundation website at www.njconservation.org or contact me at info@njconservation.org.

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Trash seems to be an inevitable part of life in our modern culture. But is it possible to reduce your garbage by half? How about 75 percent ... or even all of it? New Jersey has always been in the forefront of trash reduction.

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CLOSE

Cutting back on one-use plastic can be habit-forming. The hardest part is getting started.
This story is part of an ongoing series that details the plastic pollution problem in New Jersey and efforts to curb it that could change the way you eat, drink and shop. Read more from the "The War on Plastic" series here.
The road to effective plastic recycling is paved with good intentions and strewn with obstacles, from a lack of understanding about how recycling works, to plain old human nature, laziness and indifference.

But there are ways to succeed.

When Brian C. Haggerty became the commissioner of public works in Lyndhurst in 2005 - a post he held for four years - he re-instituted the town's recycling program.

He also made an educational public service video on the importance of recycling that ran repeatedly on the Comcast cable system, and sweetened the deal by offering residents sturdy new bins to make their lives a little bit easier.

"We had round bins for co-mingled, square ones for paper and cardboard, and they were all stacked up at the DPW, free for the taking," Haggerty recalled. "And it was great. I would sit in my office and see people taking the bins and thought to myself, 'Isn't this wonderful?' But, then I found out that many people were using the bins for all kinds of other things, taking them down the shore, using them to store things in their garages. The square ones were apparently very popular with people who grew tomatoes."

Microplastics: They're found in air, water, beer, everywhere: What are they doing to us?

War on Plastics: NJ is pushing one of the strictest plastics bans in the nation. But is it enough?

A timeline: Our love affair with plastic and the growing movement to address plastic waste

Eventually, though, the town's efforts began to pay off. More residents began disposing of their recyclables properly - as reflected by the drop in tonnage of the regular trash.

"We went from a shade under 14,000 tons annually when I started," Haggerty said, "to about 9,800 tons, four years later."

Educate yourself

Haggerty attributes this to increased awareness about the program and a better understanding of what items could (and should) be recycled.

"The more research I did," he said, "the more I realized how many things I could have been recycling, but wasn't. Egg cartons. Pasta boxes. All this other plastic, paper and cardboard I wasn't even paying attention to. Those cardboard tubes you're left with when you're done with paper towels and toilet paper? They're recyclable too."

Plastic recycling numbers defined (Photo: Joram Mushinske)

Getting used to what is and isn't recyclable takes time and effort, according to Stephen Daniele, 33 and a data manager for PSEG from North Haledon. For years, did his best to recycle grocery store bags by placing them in the appropriate bins when he returned to the store.

"Finally," Daniele said, "I just bought the fabric ones. They're washable and reusable. If you can cut out the plastic altogether, why not do it?"

Speak up

When Daniele was, in his words, a "pompous 23-year-old" working as a temp at the Ralph Lauren corporate office in Lyndhurst, he noticed how many styrofoam cups were being used. He wrote a letter to Mr. Lauren. "

"I never got an answer from him, but within two weeks all of the styrofoam was gone and replaced with paper products, so I was glad I spoke up," he said.

Make good choices to begin with

In addition to shunning the plastic options at checkout counters, Daniele also refuses styrofoam packaging at restaurants.

"Ask for cardboard or tin," Daniele said. "Or bring your own containers. Or, better yet, eat all your food! When you can, buy things that come in glass instead of plastic. Buy your mushrooms loose instead of getting the ones in the plastic boxes. And don't think it doesn't matter. There's nothing wrong with starting small. The important thing is to become more conscious of the problem, telling people you don't want plastic you don't need, and then sticking to your guns."

Buy recycled items

Joseph Cicchelli of Hackensack said he has been "properly" disposing of his recyclables for years. Whenever possible, though, he also makes a point of buying items made of recycled materials.

For a deck he built recently, he used composite material that is made of recycled plastic combined with wood and I used extruded PVC for my exterior trim.

"Some of these products can be more expensive, but they last longer than wood. And there is less maintenance to worry about," he said. "I'm retired and doing more things around the house than I ever did."

Trex, an increasingly popular option for decks, is made from 95 percent recycled wood and plastic film. The company says it uses everything from plastic wrap on paper towels to dry cleaner bags, sandwich bags, newspaper sleeves, and grocery and shopping bags, and that the average 500-square-food Trex deck contains 140,000 recycled plastic bags.

And that's just fine with Cicchelli.

"If you can make use of products made of recycled items, why not do it?"

Today, a range of products are being made from recycled plastic, everything from clothing items to toys, toothbrushes, sleeping bags, even stadium seats.

Get the family involved

Artist and designer Rose Orelup with her fashions made of recycled materials, part of the Eco Chic 2 exhibit that opened in September at the Paterson Museum. (Photo: Chris Monroe/Special to NorthJersey.com)

When we asked readers what they do to scale back on their plastic bag consumption, Marilyn Maney of Midland Park suggested getting the entire family involved.

"Count how many plastic bags you use each week, then see how many you can reduce, week by week. Make it into a game or challenge." (Maney is similarly concerned about balloons. "Consider alternatives to your celebrations," she said, "such as blowing bubbles, planting trees or flowers, or making colorful streamers, flags and banners.")

Many readers said they bought the reusable totes, but often forgot to bring them to the store. Holly Nolan keeps a dozen canvas bags in her car. "I have a dozen in various sizes," she said, "and I keep them in the largest bag. One by one, we need to demonstrate to cashiers that plastic is a pollutant so that canvas bags become a trend again."

Marian McDermott of River Vale notes that many people who have reusable totes still wind up taking home plastic produce bags.

"I bring reusable mesh bags to the grocery store for my produce," McDermott said. "They're sold online and are very inexpensive and washable."

Have a system!

Crushing plastic disposed of in public spaces would allow more of it to be recycled, one reader noted. (Photo: Anthony Buccino)

Rick Weiman of Oakland, who describes himself as an "avid conservationist," has his own system. "I use canvas bags when I grocery shop at the ShopRite in Oakland, but I do occasionally have them put my raw meat and fish in plastic bags," he said. "At our house we have a big Kohl's plastic bag hanging in our closet that we put our used plastic bags in. This includes the small green bag The Record comes in every day, bags from other stores, and empty cereal box bags. After a month or two it is usually full. We then take it to ShopRite on our next trip and empty it into one of their plastic bag recycling bins, saving the big Kohl's bag for future use."

Mary Ellen Sandahl of Morristown, also uses store recycling bins and noted that putting the bags in with your other household recyclables is probably not a good idea. "The municipal utilities authority in my part of N.J. encourages [residents to] keep all lightweight, flexible plastics out of the regular commingled recycling, because it badly fouls the mechanical sorting equipment. A single bag can jam the machinery and bring the sorting process to a halt for considerable periods of time."

When it comes to disposing of plastic items in public spaces, Anthony Buccino of Nutley shared a pet peeve and a suggestion: "I get angry when I see uncrushed plastic bottles overflowing the public recycle bins. Crush them! If people routinely did this there would be plenty of room for the cups and bottles and people wouldn't have to throw their plastic in with the regular trash."

Read or Share this story: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/environment/2018/10/12/how-recycle-reduce-waste-home/1487662002/

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Here are some tips on how to recycle and cut back on your plastic waste

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CLOSE Cutting back on one-use plastic can be habit-forming. The hardest part is getting started. This story is part of an ongoing series that details the plastic pollution problem in New Jersey and efforts to curb it that could change the way you eat, drink and shop.

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Your beach ball sprang a leak. Can you toss it into the plastics bin? Find out in this A-to-Z guide.

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What can be recycled?

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What can I recycle in New Jersey? A complete guide to what can be recycled in New Jersey.

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Recycling information

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Disclosure Policy and Privacy Policy
If you are looking for ways to reuse everyday items, this post is for you! I am going to share many different ways you can reuse things you normally trash!

Ways To Reuse Everyday Items

It doesn't matter if you are someone just starting out on the recycle/upcycle idea or someone that has been doing it for years. Either way, you are sure to find some tips and ideas you may have never thought of before. There really are endless ways to reuse everyday items.

Have an item you don't see covered here that you would like to get some ideas for? I would love to hear it! It may be something I have many ideas on how to reuse and just have not gotten around to posting it yet, so give me a push!

Same goes for if you have an idea for something that I have not included in this list. Feel free to leave comments on how you like to reuse an item. I am sure others would love to hear it as well as much as I would!

Below you will find a clickable image of each item. That image (or the text link below the images) will take you to a page full of ideas to reuse just that item.

I will be updating this list with other ideas as I get to them. So feel free to bookmark this page or pin it on Pinterest and check back to see what new ideas have been added.

Many Different Ways To Reuse Everyday Items

Did you know there are so many different ways to reuse?

As you can see, there really are not too many things that you can not reuse in some way or another. And We have only hit on a few of the everyday items in the house, there are so many more! If there really is no way you can reuse it, at least try to recycle it. If that fails, then maybe try and make a different choice the next time you are shopping.

Try to get things you know you will be able to reuse or at least recycle. One by one, if we all help out, we can make earth a little cleaner and healthier. After all, we do have to live here, well unless they really do figure out a way for us to move to space 😉

Remember, if you have an idea or a way you like to reuse an item, please leave it in the comments below. We want to hear everyone's ideas!

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Ways To Reuse Everyday Items - Reuse Grow Enjoy

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Disclosure Policy and Privacy Policy If you are looking for ways to reuse everyday items, this post is for you! I am going to share many different ways you can reuse things you normally trash! It doesn't matter if you are someone just starting out on the recycle /upcycle idea or someone that has been doing it for years.

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There is mounting evidence that Earth's climate is changing. Still, there are so many different ideas and opinions on the issue that we don't always know how to talk about it.

We do know that patterns of extreme weather, pollution, and the availability of natural resources are linked to climate change. But how? What role do we have in that? Better understanding of the science behind the rise in global temperatures can help us talk about our changing climate and take action. With a sound understanding, we can begin to think critically about the historical causes and-most importantly-make informed decisions about solutions for the future.

Here are 12 videos to help introduce the complex science of climate change to your students.

What is climate change?

Climate Change 101, with Bill Nye, explains the rise in global temperatures since the industrial revolution. Bill Nye describes the science behind greenhouse gases and the implications of a changing climate on both our natural world and built environment. He also provides a few suggestions for how we can all be a part of the solution. (Length: 4:09)

To better understand climate change, imagine a game of Tetris. Climate Change: Earth's Giant Game of Tetris is a video that does just that. Using this analogy, you'll learn about the carbon cycle, the greenhouse effect, and the environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels. (Length: 2:48)

What is the carbon cycle and why does it matter?

What's the Deal with Carbon explains the carbon cycle. Developed by the University of Minnesota Bell Museum of Natural History and the Center for Sustainable Building Research, this animated video describes what carbon is, how it interacts in nature, and where it is stored. Viewers will also learn about the role of human activity in the carbon cycle and the links between the production of carbon emissions and climate change. (Length: 3:03)

Exploring the Carbon Cycle dives deeper into the science behind the unique element that is carbon, which is essential to all living things and is often called the building block of life. This video defines important terms such as carbon pool and carbon flux, while also detailing carbon's movement through photosynthesis and respiration. The video is highlighted in Activity 7 -Carbon on the Move in PLT's Southeastern Forest and Climate Change curriculum designed to help high school students learn about the impacts of climate change on forests and carbon sequestration. (Length: 3:10)

Want more resources for a lesson on the carbon cycle? Download a free Carbon in Action worksheet.

Download now

What is climate science?

Brought to you by PBS's "It's Okay to Be Smart" with Joe Hanson, Climate Science: What You Need to Know provides 24 quick facts on how and why global temperatures are rising, where we see some of the most extreme changes, and how species are being impacted. (Length: 6:19)

Developed by Planet Nutshell, Climate Science in a Nutshell: #4 Too Much Carbon Dioxide explains the relationship between carbon dioxide and the increase in global temperatures. This video describes the ways in which carbon dioxide and global temperatures are connected and explains how excess amounts of carbon prevent heat from escaping the atmosphere, causing a greenhouse effect. (Length: 2:44)

Does 2°C really make a difference?

Learn more about what the 2°C increase in global temperature really means with What Happens if Earth Gets 2°C Warmer? from Popular Science. The video describes the Paris Agreement within the United Nations, a strategy designed to keep the average global temperature from rising 2°C above pre-industrial levels. It explores the history and significance of this 2°C benchmark, as well as the data surrounding patterns of extreme weather due to increases in global temperatures. (Length: 4:59)

What are some effects of a changing climate and how will we adapt?

Modeling Climate and Tree Growth presents a model for measuring the impact of climate change on tree growth. Learn how scientists make predictions of tree growth in the future and suggest how forest landowners might adapt to changes in climate. (Length: 2:14)

Developed by the Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials, Cut Trees to Save the Environment-Who Knew? describes how trees capture and store carbon. It explains how forestry plays an important role in reducing carbon emissions for the long term. Viewers learn about why wood is a sustainable, renewable resource. (Length: 3:05)

What can teachers and students do to help?

The Nature Conservancy explains some of the natural solutions that can help slow climate changes, with Natural Climate Solutions. This video details some of the lesser appreciated natural climate solutions, such as the ability of wetlands and grasslands to absorb and store large amounts of carbon. (Length: 4:05)

Solutions to climate change require innovation and these kids have some ideas for that! In this video, Kids Describe S olutions to Global Warming, students describe various visions for a sustainable future: cars with solar panels, factories run by renewable energy, and inventions for disaster relief. (Length: 7:24)

Did you know that just one kid has the power to make a difference and help stop climate change? Get inspired with I'm only a kid, I can't do anything about climate change.... right? from Global Weirding with Katharine Hayhoe. Dr. Hayhoe shares stories of kids across the country making an impact on climate change and encourages students with suggestions on how to use their strengths to make a difference. (Length: 6:58)

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12 Videos to Introduce Climate Change to Middle School Students

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Climate change is having a profound effect on the environment. Videos are a great way to introduce some of the complex topics associated with climate change.