Facts & Figures
The net reduction in the world’s forests is estimated at 7.3 million hectares per year (an area about the size of Panama).
(Source: Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
The world’s total forest area in 2005 is just under 4 billion hectares, corresponding to an average of 0.62 ha per capita. But the area of forest is unevenly distributed. For example, 64 countries with a combined population of 2 billion have less than 0.1 ha of forest per capita. The ten most forest-rich countries account for two-thirds of the total forest area. Seven countries or territories have no forest at all, and an additional 57 have forest on less than 10 percent of their total land area.
(Source: Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
It is estimated that the world’s forests store 283 Gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon in their biomass alone, and that the carbon stored in forest biomass, deadwood, litter and soil together is roughly 50 percent more than the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.
(Source: Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
Rare tree species and those highly valued for wood or non-wood forest products are often in danger of becoming extinct within parts of their range. On average, 5 percent of the tree species native to a country are either vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered.
(Source: RainforestLive United Kingdom)
The area which is prone to desertification worldwide is approximately 38 million km² of which 6.9 million km² (23 per cent) are in sub-saharan Africa.
(Source: United Nations Environment Programme)
Africa's soil resources are thus mostly fragile and sensitive to unwise use. Sub-Saharan Africa's fuelwood consumption is running 30 to 200 per cent ahead of the average increase in the stock of trees. Africa loses an estimated 5 million hectares of tropical forest area per year. Land degradation is estimated to affect about 230 million hectares annually.
(Source: United Nations Environment Programme)
Around 10 million people are employed in forest management and conservation.
(Source: Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
In recent years, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have been rising at a rate of about 0.5 percent per year.
(Source: US Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration)
World carbon dioxide emissions are projected to rise from 26.9 billion metric tons in 2004 to 33.9 billion metric tons in 2015 and 42.9 billion metric tons in 2030.
The relative contributions of different fossil fuels to total energy-related carbon dioxide emissions have changed over time. In 1990, emissions from petroleum and other liquids combustion made up an estimated 42 percent of the world total. In 2004, the petroleum share was 40 percent, and in 2030 its share is projected to be 36 percent, of the world total. Carbon dioxide emissions from natural gas combustion, which accounted for 19 percent of the total in 1990, increased to 20 percent of the 2004 total. That share is projected to rise to 21 percent in 2030. Coal’s share in 2004 was the same as its share in 1990, at 39 percent; however, its share is projected to increase to 43 percent in 2030. Coal is the most carbon-intensive of the fossil fuels, and it is the fastest-growing energy source.
(Source: US Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration)
The transportation sector is the greatest producer of CO2 emissions. However, within the residential, commercial and industrial sectors, electricity generation is a major contributor.
(Source: US Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration)
Average CO2 emissions per capita in the United States are about 20.18t per year.
(Source: US Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration)
CO2 emissions in air travel vary by the length of the flight. Short flights are about 0.24 kg CO2 per passenger mile. Long flights are about 0.18 kg CO2 per passenger mile. A flight of about 1000 miles would therefore generate between 180kg and 240kg of CO2 per passenger, in each direction. It is 1000 miles, for example, between New York and Miami, or between London and Malaga (Spain).
(Source: World Resources Institute)
A single detached family home with 3 bedrooms and 4 residents generates about 1.4t of CO2 per year.
(Source: CarbonFund)
An apartment in a large apartment building with 1 bedroom and 2 residents generates about 0.9t of CO2 per year.
(Source: CarbonFund)
Driving a late model mid-sized car about 6000 to 10,000 miles per year generates about 3.4t of CO2 per year.
(Source: CarbonFund)
The emissions from electricity depend on how it is generated. The UK government department in charge of climate change issues publishes a figure of 0.43 kg of CO2 per kWh of electricity. This represents a mix of coal, gas, nuclear and renewable energy used in the UK. So for example 10 typical 100W light bulbs left on for an hour (which could consume about 1kWh of electricity) would create about 0.43 kg of CO2.
(Source: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – United Kingdom)
In China, where large scale destruction of forests has occurred, the government has in the past required that every able-bodied citizen between the ages of 11 and 60 plant three to five trees per year or do the equivalent amount of work in other forest services. The government claims that at least 1 billion trees have been planted in China every year since 1982.
(Source: Wikipedia)