According to the latest report issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), scientists are observing changes in the Earth’s climate in every region and across the whole climate system. Many of the changes observed in the climate are unprecedented in thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of years. Some of the changes already set in motion—such as continued sea level rise—are irreversible over hundreds to thousands of years.

However, solid and sustained reductions in carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) and other greenhouse gases would limit climate change.

“Climate change is already affecting every region on Earth, in multiple ways. The changes we experience will increase with additional warming,” said IPCC Working Group I Co-Chair Panmao Zhai.

The report forecasts that in the coming decades, climate changes will increase in all regions. For 1.5°C of global warming, there will be increasing heat waves, longer warm seasons, and shorter cold seasons. At 2°C of global warming, heat extremes would more often reach critical tolerance thresholds for agriculture and health.

The report also shows that human actions still have the potential to determine the future course of climate. Now, what are your plans for lunch? Lunch?

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that food reached landfills more than any other single material. When food goes to the landfill, it rots and produces methane – a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide. We could reduce roughly 6%-8% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions if we just stopped wasting food. Take our Lunch Food Waste Audit – it’s a two-week project that asks you to track your lunch waste and change some habits. Measure as best you can and take photos. Share your findings and share what you will do differently.

See how what you have for lunch does matter.