Earth Day: Three facts about climate change that everybody should know

However, scientists estimate that we are now losing species at 1,000 to 10,000 times the normal rate, with multiple extinctions daily. Multiple species will disappear before we learn about them or the benefits they bring to our planet.

These three terrible facts outline the present environmental crisis. They also underpin the urgency of Earth Day, which was held yesterday, 22 April, under the theme Protect our Species.

More facts are available on Earth Day’s website, whose mission is to ‘diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide’.

So far, 1 billion people from 192 countries take part in the day each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

Earth Day comes as climate change activist and teenager, Greta Thunberg today was set to visit Westminster to talk with MPs. She told BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme, she would be urging leaders to ‘listen to the science, listen to the scientists. Invite them to talk.'

"I am just speaking on behalf of them, I'm trying to say what they've been saying for decades," she told the programme.

Barack Obama tweeted his support of Greta and Earth Day: “Young people all over the world are leading the way in the fight to protect our planet because they know their future depends on it.

This Earth Day, I want to celebrate the courageous, committed young leaders who are stepping up to save the one planet we've got.”

Visit the website for top facts and other resources here