GITNUXREPORT 2026

Sustainability Statistics

Climate stats show urgent action needed to curb emissions and protect nature.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Global species extinction rate is 100-10,000 times higher than background, with 1 million species threatened per IPBES 2019

Statistic 2

Forest loss reached 4.1 million hectares in 2022 tropics, Brazil/Indonesia 50%, equivalent to 1.5 GtCO2 emissions

Statistic 3

Coral reefs declined 14% globally since 2009, 45% in Australia GBR, due to bleaching from 1.1°C warming

Statistic 4

Insect populations fell 45% in Germany since 1989, projected 40% global decline by 2100 under medium emissions

Statistic 5

Protected areas cover 17% terrestrial, 8% marine globally, but only 34% of key biodiversity areas fully protected

Statistic 6

Bird populations declined 3 billion (-29%) since 1970 in North America, Europe similar trends per BirdLife

Statistic 7

Mangrove forests lost 3,700 km² 1996-2020, blue carbon stocks reduced by 275 MtCO2-eq, Asia 62% loss

Statistic 8

Freshwater species 83,000 assessed, 27% threatened, amphibians worst at 41%, per IUCN Red List 2023

Statistic 9

Top 100 corporations emit 71% industrial GHGs, impacting 50% threatened species habitats

Statistic 10

Global deforestation 10 Mha/year 2010-2020 average, but primary forest loss halved since 2018 peaks

Statistic 11

Shark/ray populations declined 71% since 1970, overfishing cause, 37% species threatened IUCN 2023

Statistic 12

Pollinator decline 30-50% managed bees, wild 1-2%/yr Europe/NA, pesticides/habitat loss key

Statistic 13

Seagrass meadows declined 7% per decade since 1870s, storing 18% blue carbon despite 0.1% ocean cover

Statistic 14

IUCN Red List 150,369 species assessed, 28% threatened with extinction as of 2024

Statistic 15

Rewilding projects restored 250,000 km² Europe 1990-2023, boosting mammal populations 20-50%

Statistic 16

Amazon deforestation 11,088 km² 2022, 50% cattle ranching, soy/agri 30%, indigenous lands 80% intact

Statistic 17

Bat populations declined 50% NA since 2006 from white-nose syndrome, ecosystem service loss $3.7B/yr

Statistic 18

Kelp forests declined 1-2%/yr Pacific, urchin barrens tripled since 2000

Statistic 19

41% amphibians threatened, 13% critically endangered, habitat loss/chytrid 70% causes

Statistic 20

Global tree cover loss 21.9 Mha 2022, fires 45%, commodities 28%

Statistic 21

Whale populations recovered 20% some species post-ban, but 300,000 ocean plastic ingestion deaths/yr

Statistic 22

Global freshwater fish 18,201 species, 31% threatened, dams/overfish 60%

Statistic 23

Peatland degradation emits 5% global GHGs from 3% land, restoration sequesters 0.7 GtCO2/yr potential

Statistic 24

Butterfly declines 50% UK 50 years, 20% Europe, pesticides/mono-crops drivers

Statistic 25

Nature-based solutions can provide 37% emission reductions to 2030, conserving 30% species

Statistic 26

In 2022, global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions reached 57.4 GtCO2-eq, a 1.2% increase from 2021, with the energy sector contributing 75% primarily from fossil fuel combustion

Statistic 27

The atmospheric concentration of CO2 hit 419.3 ppm in 2023, the highest in at least 800,000 years, driven by fossil fuel burning and deforestation

Statistic 28

Global mean sea level rose by 4.62 mm per year from 2013-2022, accelerating from 2.1 mm/year in 1993-2002 due to thermal expansion and ice melt

Statistic 29

2023 was the hottest year on record with a global average temperature 1.18°C above the 1850-1900 baseline, exceeding 1.5°C threshold temporarily

Statistic 30

Arctic sea ice extent minimum in September 2023 was 4.37 million km², 1.54 million km² below 1981-2010 average

Statistic 31

Cumulative CO2 emissions from 1850-2021 total 2475 GtCO2, with 58% from the US and EU combined historically

Statistic 32

Methane emissions grew 10% from 2000-2019, reaching 386 MtCH4/yr, with agriculture and fossil fuels as top sources

Statistic 33

Global glacier mass loss was 267 Gt/year from 2000-2019, contributing 0.74 mm/year to sea level rise

Statistic 34

Extreme heat days increased 5-fold globally since 1950s, with 2023 seeing 4890 heat-related deaths in Europe alone

Statistic 35

Ocean heat content reached record 436 ZJ in 2023 upper 2000m, absorbing 91% of excess heat

Statistic 36

Global renewable electricity capacity hit 3,372 GW by end-2022, up 10.3% from 2021, led by solar PV at 1,053 GW

Statistic 37

Solar PV capacity grew 240 GW in 2022, 67% increase, with China adding 121 GW representing 50% of global additions

Statistic 38

Wind power capacity reached 899 GW globally in 2022, with onshore dominating at 830 GW and offshore 34 GW

Statistic 39

Hydropower generated 4,160 TWh in 2022, 15% of global electricity, but drought reduced output by 2.5% YoY

Statistic 40

Bioenergy contributed 595 GW capacity in 2022, with modern bioenergy avoiding 1.5 GtCO2-eq emissions annually

Statistic 41

Geothermal capacity stood at 15.6 GW in 2022, producing 92 TWh, with 80% from enhanced systems in top 5 countries

Statistic 42

Global renewables investment reached $495 billion in 2022, 2.7x fossil fuels, with solar capturing 60%

Statistic 43

Offshore wind LCOE fell to $72/MWh in 2022 from $173/MWh in 2010, due to larger turbines averaging 14 MW

Statistic 44

Concentrated solar power capacity grew to 7.4 GW by 2022, with 80% in top 6 countries, dispatchable storage key advantage

Statistic 45

Green hydrogen production capacity announced reached 350 GW electrolysers by 2030 targets, but only 0.1 GW operational in 2022

Statistic 46

In 2022, global solar PV installations added 269 GW, bringing total to 1,053 GW, with utility-scale projects averaging 250 MW each

Statistic 47

Wind turbine efficiency reached 59% capacity factor for top offshore farms in 2022, vs 35% onshore average

Statistic 48

Battery storage capacity hit 45 GW globally in 2022, lithium-ion 90%, paired with 50 GW renewables

Statistic 49

Global ethanol production 112 billion liters in 2022, Brazil/USA 85%, reducing 100 MtCO2-eq transport emissions

Statistic 50

CSP with storage achieved 24/7 dispatchability in 7 GW projects, LCOE $50-60/MWh in sunny regions 2022

Statistic 51

Rooftop solar grew to 455 GW cumulative by 2022, residential segment 40%, Germany/China lead adoption

Statistic 52

Green hydrogen electrolyser costs fell to $500/kW in 2022 pilots, target $200/kW by 2030 for 80M tpa production

Statistic 53

Global solar PV LCOE $0.049/kWh unsubsidized 2022, 89% drop since 2010, cheaper than coal $0.108

Statistic 54

Floating offshore wind pilots 100 MW 2022, scaling to 220 GW potential by 2050 in Asia-Pacific

Statistic 55

Utility-scale solar bifacial panels efficiency 22.5% average 2022, heterojunction tech 25%+

Statistic 56

Biomass power 145 GW capacity 2022, CHP efficiency 85%, waste-to-energy 10% share

Statistic 57

Pumped hydro storage 160 GW global, 94% of storage, China 40 GW additions planned 2023-27

Statistic 58

Corporate PPA for renewables 25 GW signed 2022, tech giants 60%, stabilizing prices $30-50/MWh

Statistic 59

Global wind capacity additions 77 GW 2022, China 50%, turbine hub heights avg 110m onshore

Statistic 60

Onshore wind LCOE $0.033/kWh 2022 best sites, 70% cheaper fossil CCGT unsubsidized

Statistic 61

Hybrid solar-wind-storage projects 10 GW pipeline 2023, firming capacity to 90% CF

Statistic 62

Global biogas production 100 bcm 2022, up 5%, anaerobic digestion 70 GW equiv power

Statistic 63

Long-duration storage pilots 100 MW/400 MWh 2022, iron-air/flow batteries emerging

Statistic 64

Residential battery installs 1.3 million units 2022, 14 GWh capacity, Australia 40% market

Statistic 65

Wave energy potential 29,500 TWh/yr global EEZ, prototypes 100 MW cumulative 2023

Statistic 66

Tidal stream capacity 600 MW 2023, Scotland 50 MW MeyGen full scale, LCOE $0.20/kWh falling

Statistic 67

Synthetic fuels from renewables pilots 10 MW electrolysers 2022, e-fuels for aviation 5 Mt target 2030

Statistic 68

Global EV charging stations 3 million public 2022, fast chargers 15%, China 80% total

Statistic 69

Global municipal solid waste generation was 2.24 billion tonnes in 2020, projected to 3.88 billion by 2050, with 33% from upper-middle-income countries

Statistic 70

Plastic waste production hit 460 Mt in 2019, only 9% recycled, 50% landfilled/incinerated, oceans receive 1-2 Mt annually

Statistic 71

Global e-waste reached 62 Mt in 2022, up 82% since 2010, with only 22.3% formally recycled, containing $91B in metals

Statistic 72

Food waste totals 1.05 billion tonnes/year globally, 19% of production, emitting 3.3 GtCO2-eq or 8% of GHGs

Statistic 73

Global recycling rate for metals is 52%, plastics 9%, paper 58%, glass 21% as of 2022 averages

Statistic 74

Hazardous waste generation was 400 Mt in 2022, with 45% incinerated, 30% landfilled, Asia producing 50%

Statistic 75

Circular economy could save $4.5 trillion by 2030 via waste reduction, with plastics recycling gap at 84%

Statistic 76

Landfill methane emissions total 1.3 GtCO2-eq/year, 11% of global CH4, with capture rates <10% in developing nations

Statistic 77

Global textile waste is 92 Mt/year, 87% landfilled/incinerated, fast fashion contributes 60% growth since 2000

Statistic 78

Construction waste averages 35% of total solid waste, 2.01 billion tonnes/year, with 50% recyclable but only 20-30% recovered

Statistic 79

Global waste generation per capita 0.79 kg/day in high-income countries vs 0.46 kg in low-income 2020

Statistic 80

E-waste recycling recovered 17.4 Mt of 62 Mt generated in 2022, gold/silver value $15B lost annually

Statistic 81

Organic waste 44% of global MSW, composting potential 500 MtCO2-eq reduction if managed

Statistic 82

Tire waste 1.5 billion units/year, 1 billion recycled into crumb rubber, pyrolysis emerging at 5%

Statistic 83

Battery recycling rate 95% for lead-acid, 5% for lithium-ion globally 2022, critical for EV boom

Statistic 84

Single-use plastic bans in 75 countries cover 20% population, reducing 10 Mt use by 2025 projected

Statistic 85

Global plastics recycling rate 9% 2019, mechanical dominant, chemical recycling pilots 1 Mt capacity

Statistic 86

WEEE formal collection 22.3% 2022, informal 30% hazardous handling, Africa lowest 0.9%

Statistic 87

Landfill capacity utilization 80% in EU, bans on organics in 15 countries divert 50 Mt/year

Statistic 88

Global steel recycling 848 Mt from 1,951 Mt produced 2022, electric arc furnaces 30% scrap-based

Statistic 89

RDF/SRF market 50 Mt traded 2022, co-firing in cement 20%, reducing fossil use 5 Mt/yr

Statistic 90

Global food loss index 13% post-harvest developing, waste 11% retail/consumer rich nations

Statistic 91

Shipbreaking waste 1.2 Mt steel/year, Asia 95% beaching method, toxic releases 100,000 t PCBs

Statistic 92

Global paper recycling 59% rate 2022, 210 Mt recovered from 400 Mt produced

Statistic 93

Medical waste 85 kg/bed/year hospitals, COVID peaked 6.4 kg/bed/day, incineration 70%

Statistic 94

EU landfill directive reduced landfilled waste 50% since 1995, to 24% total 2022

Statistic 95

Global freshwater use reached 4,000 km³/year in 2020, agriculture 70%, with 2.4 billion people facing shortages

Statistic 96

Groundwater depletion averages 285 km³/year globally 2000-2018, India/USA/China 50%

Statistic 97

Ocean plastic pollution 11 million tonnes entered in 2016, projected 29 Mt by 2040 without action

Statistic 98

80% of wastewater discharged untreated globally, affecting 1.8 billion people health via rivers

Statistic 99

Glacier volume loss 9% since 2000, 27,000 Gt ice, contributing 24 mm sea level rise 1994-2017

Statistic 100

Desalination capacity 142 million m³/day in 2023, energy use 3-4 kWh/m³ SWRO, Middle East 55%

Statistic 101

River damming fragments 60% global rivers, trapping 95% sediment, harming deltas like Mekong

Statistic 102

Microplastics in 88% bottled water samples, 10.4 particles/L average, 93% nanoplastics

Statistic 103

Global water productivity $18/km³ GDP in 2020, agriculture lowest at $0.6/km³

Statistic 104

Annual water withdrawal 4,126 km³ 2018, 69% irrigation, per capita 522 m³ highest in Central Asia

Statistic 105

2.2 billion people lack safely managed drinking water 2022, 3.5B sanitation, causing 829,000 deaths/yr

Statistic 106

Arctic ice melt released 1,500 Gt freshwater 1991-2021, slowing AMOC by 30%

Statistic 107

Wastewater reuse 0.5% globally, Israel 87%, potential 40% urban supply by 2050

Statistic 108

Aquifer recharge artificial 1-2% of extraction, managed aquifer recharge 50 km³/yr worldwide

Statistic 109

PFAS detected in 45% global tap water samples, health risks from 6 ppt limit

Statistic 110

Transboundary aquifers 592 shared, 2.8B people dependent, cooperation in 50%

Statistic 111

Coastal eutrophication from ag runoff affects 245,000 km² dead zones 2023, Mississippi 20,000 km²

Statistic 112

Global desalination energy intensity halved to 3 kWh/m³ RO 2005-2022, renewables integration 20%

Statistic 113

Water stress affects 2.3B people, 744M high stress, industry/agri 80% use MENA

Statistic 114

Global virtual water trade 2,320 km³/year agri products, 17% total footprint

Statistic 115

90% transboundary river basins lack cooperation agreements, Nile/Indus tensions high

Statistic 116

Global stormwater runoff urban 265 km³/yr, 85% polluted, CSOs 960B liters untreated US alone

1/116

Sources

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Imagine a world so warm that 2023's heat temporarily pushed us past a critical threshold, yet also so innovative that we added more solar power in a single year than ever before—this is our stark reality, where the urgency of melting ice and rising seas meets the tangible hope of a renewable revolution.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions reached 57.4 GtCO2-eq, a 1.2% increase from 2021, with the energy sector contributing 75% primarily from fossil fuel combustion
The atmospheric concentration of CO2 hit 419.3 ppm in 2023, the highest in at least 800,000 years, driven by fossil fuel burning and deforestation
Global mean sea level rose by 4.62 mm per year from 2013-2022, accelerating from 2.1 mm/year in 1993-2002 due to thermal expansion and ice melt
Global renewable electricity capacity hit 3,372 GW by end-2022, up 10.3% from 2021, led by solar PV at 1,053 GW
Solar PV capacity grew 240 GW in 2022, 67% increase, with China adding 121 GW representing 50% of global additions
Wind power capacity reached 899 GW globally in 2022, with onshore dominating at 830 GW and offshore 34 GW
Global municipal solid waste generation was 2.24 billion tonnes in 2020, projected to 3.88 billion by 2050, with 33% from upper-middle-income countries
Plastic waste production hit 460 Mt in 2019, only 9% recycled, 50% landfilled/incinerated, oceans receive 1-2 Mt annually
Global e-waste reached 62 Mt in 2022, up 82% since 2010, with only 22.3% formally recycled, containing $91B in metals
Global species extinction rate is 100-10,000 times higher than background, with 1 million species threatened per IPBES 2019
Forest loss reached 4.1 million hectares in 2022 tropics, Brazil/Indonesia 50%, equivalent to 1.5 GtCO2 emissions
Coral reefs declined 14% globally since 2009, 45% in Australia GBR, due to bleaching from 1.1°C warming
Global freshwater use reached 4,000 km³/year in 2020, agriculture 70%, with 2.4 billion people facing shortages
Groundwater depletion averages 285 km³/year globally 2000-2018, India/USA/China 50%
Ocean plastic pollution 11 million tonnes entered in 2016, projected 29 Mt by 2040 without action

Climate stats show urgent action needed to curb emissions and protect nature.

Biodiversity

Global species extinction rate is 100-10,000 times higher than background, with 1 million species threatened per IPBES 2019
Forest loss reached 4.1 million hectares in 2022 tropics, Brazil/Indonesia 50%, equivalent to 1.5 GtCO2 emissions
Coral reefs declined 14% globally since 2009, 45% in Australia GBR, due to bleaching from 1.1°C warming
Insect populations fell 45% in Germany since 1989, projected 40% global decline by 2100 under medium emissions
Protected areas cover 17% terrestrial, 8% marine globally, but only 34% of key biodiversity areas fully protected
Bird populations declined 3 billion (-29%) since 1970 in North America, Europe similar trends per BirdLife
Mangrove forests lost 3,700 km² 1996-2020, blue carbon stocks reduced by 275 MtCO2-eq, Asia 62% loss
Freshwater species 83,000 assessed, 27% threatened, amphibians worst at 41%, per IUCN Red List 2023
Top 100 corporations emit 71% industrial GHGs, impacting 50% threatened species habitats
Global deforestation 10 Mha/year 2010-2020 average, but primary forest loss halved since 2018 peaks
Shark/ray populations declined 71% since 1970, overfishing cause, 37% species threatened IUCN 2023
Pollinator decline 30-50% managed bees, wild 1-2%/yr Europe/NA, pesticides/habitat loss key
Seagrass meadows declined 7% per decade since 1870s, storing 18% blue carbon despite 0.1% ocean cover
IUCN Red List 150,369 species assessed, 28% threatened with extinction as of 2024
Rewilding projects restored 250,000 km² Europe 1990-2023, boosting mammal populations 20-50%
Amazon deforestation 11,088 km² 2022, 50% cattle ranching, soy/agri 30%, indigenous lands 80% intact
Bat populations declined 50% NA since 2006 from white-nose syndrome, ecosystem service loss $3.7B/yr
Kelp forests declined 1-2%/yr Pacific, urchin barrens tripled since 2000
41% amphibians threatened, 13% critically endangered, habitat loss/chytrid 70% causes
Global tree cover loss 21.9 Mha 2022, fires 45%, commodities 28%
Whale populations recovered 20% some species post-ban, but 300,000 ocean plastic ingestion deaths/yr
Global freshwater fish 18,201 species, 31% threatened, dams/overfish 60%
Peatland degradation emits 5% global GHGs from 3% land, restoration sequesters 0.7 GtCO2/yr potential
Butterfly declines 50% UK 50 years, 20% Europe, pesticides/mono-crops drivers
Nature-based solutions can provide 37% emission reductions to 2030, conserving 30% species

Biodiversity Interpretation

From the depths of the ocean to the tops of the trees, nature is sending us an invoice written in vanishing species and razed forests, and our current payment plan of half-measures and hollow protections is about to bounce, leaving us bankrupt in a world we were merely supposed to steward.

Climate Change

In 2022, global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions reached 57.4 GtCO2-eq, a 1.2% increase from 2021, with the energy sector contributing 75% primarily from fossil fuel combustion
The atmospheric concentration of CO2 hit 419.3 ppm in 2023, the highest in at least 800,000 years, driven by fossil fuel burning and deforestation
Global mean sea level rose by 4.62 mm per year from 2013-2022, accelerating from 2.1 mm/year in 1993-2002 due to thermal expansion and ice melt
2023 was the hottest year on record with a global average temperature 1.18°C above the 1850-1900 baseline, exceeding 1.5°C threshold temporarily
Arctic sea ice extent minimum in September 2023 was 4.37 million km², 1.54 million km² below 1981-2010 average
Cumulative CO2 emissions from 1850-2021 total 2475 GtCO2, with 58% from the US and EU combined historically
Methane emissions grew 10% from 2000-2019, reaching 386 MtCH4/yr, with agriculture and fossil fuels as top sources
Global glacier mass loss was 267 Gt/year from 2000-2019, contributing 0.74 mm/year to sea level rise
Extreme heat days increased 5-fold globally since 1950s, with 2023 seeing 4890 heat-related deaths in Europe alone
Ocean heat content reached record 436 ZJ in 2023 upper 2000m, absorbing 91% of excess heat

Climate Change Interpretation

Humanity is conducting a spectacularly ill-advised, planet-scale experiment where we are both the reckless scientists and the lab rats, as evidenced by our record-breaking emissions, soaring temperatures, vanishing ice, and rising seas.

Renewable Energy

Global renewable electricity capacity hit 3,372 GW by end-2022, up 10.3% from 2021, led by solar PV at 1,053 GW
Solar PV capacity grew 240 GW in 2022, 67% increase, with China adding 121 GW representing 50% of global additions
Wind power capacity reached 899 GW globally in 2022, with onshore dominating at 830 GW and offshore 34 GW
Hydropower generated 4,160 TWh in 2022, 15% of global electricity, but drought reduced output by 2.5% YoY
Bioenergy contributed 595 GW capacity in 2022, with modern bioenergy avoiding 1.5 GtCO2-eq emissions annually
Geothermal capacity stood at 15.6 GW in 2022, producing 92 TWh, with 80% from enhanced systems in top 5 countries
Global renewables investment reached $495 billion in 2022, 2.7x fossil fuels, with solar capturing 60%
Offshore wind LCOE fell to $72/MWh in 2022 from $173/MWh in 2010, due to larger turbines averaging 14 MW
Concentrated solar power capacity grew to 7.4 GW by 2022, with 80% in top 6 countries, dispatchable storage key advantage
Green hydrogen production capacity announced reached 350 GW electrolysers by 2030 targets, but only 0.1 GW operational in 2022
In 2022, global solar PV installations added 269 GW, bringing total to 1,053 GW, with utility-scale projects averaging 250 MW each
Wind turbine efficiency reached 59% capacity factor for top offshore farms in 2022, vs 35% onshore average
Battery storage capacity hit 45 GW globally in 2022, lithium-ion 90%, paired with 50 GW renewables
Global ethanol production 112 billion liters in 2022, Brazil/USA 85%, reducing 100 MtCO2-eq transport emissions
CSP with storage achieved 24/7 dispatchability in 7 GW projects, LCOE $50-60/MWh in sunny regions 2022
Rooftop solar grew to 455 GW cumulative by 2022, residential segment 40%, Germany/China lead adoption
Green hydrogen electrolyser costs fell to $500/kW in 2022 pilots, target $200/kW by 2030 for 80M tpa production
Global solar PV LCOE $0.049/kWh unsubsidized 2022, 89% drop since 2010, cheaper than coal $0.108
Floating offshore wind pilots 100 MW 2022, scaling to 220 GW potential by 2050 in Asia-Pacific
Utility-scale solar bifacial panels efficiency 22.5% average 2022, heterojunction tech 25%+
Biomass power 145 GW capacity 2022, CHP efficiency 85%, waste-to-energy 10% share
Pumped hydro storage 160 GW global, 94% of storage, China 40 GW additions planned 2023-27
Corporate PPA for renewables 25 GW signed 2022, tech giants 60%, stabilizing prices $30-50/MWh
Global wind capacity additions 77 GW 2022, China 50%, turbine hub heights avg 110m onshore
Onshore wind LCOE $0.033/kWh 2022 best sites, 70% cheaper fossil CCGT unsubsidized
Hybrid solar-wind-storage projects 10 GW pipeline 2023, firming capacity to 90% CF
Global biogas production 100 bcm 2022, up 5%, anaerobic digestion 70 GW equiv power
Long-duration storage pilots 100 MW/400 MWh 2022, iron-air/flow batteries emerging
Residential battery installs 1.3 million units 2022, 14 GWh capacity, Australia 40% market
Wave energy potential 29,500 TWh/yr global EEZ, prototypes 100 MW cumulative 2023
Tidal stream capacity 600 MW 2023, Scotland 50 MW MeyGen full scale, LCOE $0.20/kWh falling
Synthetic fuels from renewables pilots 10 MW electrolysers 2022, e-fuels for aviation 5 Mt target 2030
Global EV charging stations 3 million public 2022, fast chargers 15%, China 80% total

Renewable Energy Interpretation

While solar panels are practically throwing shade at fossil fuels with a staggering 1,053 GW capacity, and wind turbines are spinning more efficiently than ever, our clean energy sprint is still tripping over green hydrogen's slow crawl and the stubborn persistence of droughts that leave hydropower high and dry.

Waste Management

Global municipal solid waste generation was 2.24 billion tonnes in 2020, projected to 3.88 billion by 2050, with 33% from upper-middle-income countries
Plastic waste production hit 460 Mt in 2019, only 9% recycled, 50% landfilled/incinerated, oceans receive 1-2 Mt annually
Global e-waste reached 62 Mt in 2022, up 82% since 2010, with only 22.3% formally recycled, containing $91B in metals
Food waste totals 1.05 billion tonnes/year globally, 19% of production, emitting 3.3 GtCO2-eq or 8% of GHGs
Global recycling rate for metals is 52%, plastics 9%, paper 58%, glass 21% as of 2022 averages
Hazardous waste generation was 400 Mt in 2022, with 45% incinerated, 30% landfilled, Asia producing 50%
Circular economy could save $4.5 trillion by 2030 via waste reduction, with plastics recycling gap at 84%
Landfill methane emissions total 1.3 GtCO2-eq/year, 11% of global CH4, with capture rates <10% in developing nations
Global textile waste is 92 Mt/year, 87% landfilled/incinerated, fast fashion contributes 60% growth since 2000
Construction waste averages 35% of total solid waste, 2.01 billion tonnes/year, with 50% recyclable but only 20-30% recovered
Global waste generation per capita 0.79 kg/day in high-income countries vs 0.46 kg in low-income 2020
E-waste recycling recovered 17.4 Mt of 62 Mt generated in 2022, gold/silver value $15B lost annually
Organic waste 44% of global MSW, composting potential 500 MtCO2-eq reduction if managed
Tire waste 1.5 billion units/year, 1 billion recycled into crumb rubber, pyrolysis emerging at 5%
Battery recycling rate 95% for lead-acid, 5% for lithium-ion globally 2022, critical for EV boom
Single-use plastic bans in 75 countries cover 20% population, reducing 10 Mt use by 2025 projected
Global plastics recycling rate 9% 2019, mechanical dominant, chemical recycling pilots 1 Mt capacity
WEEE formal collection 22.3% 2022, informal 30% hazardous handling, Africa lowest 0.9%
Landfill capacity utilization 80% in EU, bans on organics in 15 countries divert 50 Mt/year
Global steel recycling 848 Mt from 1,951 Mt produced 2022, electric arc furnaces 30% scrap-based
RDF/SRF market 50 Mt traded 2022, co-firing in cement 20%, reducing fossil use 5 Mt/yr
Global food loss index 13% post-harvest developing, waste 11% retail/consumer rich nations
Shipbreaking waste 1.2 Mt steel/year, Asia 95% beaching method, toxic releases 100,000 t PCBs
Global paper recycling 59% rate 2022, 210 Mt recovered from 400 Mt produced
Medical waste 85 kg/bed/year hospitals, COVID peaked 6.4 kg/bed/day, incineration 70%
EU landfill directive reduced landfilled waste 50% since 1995, to 24% total 2022

Waste Management Interpretation

We are drowning in a sea of our own stuff, meticulously cataloguing the deluge while only mustering the collective will to bail with a teaspoon.

Water Resources

Global freshwater use reached 4,000 km³/year in 2020, agriculture 70%, with 2.4 billion people facing shortages
Groundwater depletion averages 285 km³/year globally 2000-2018, India/USA/China 50%
Ocean plastic pollution 11 million tonnes entered in 2016, projected 29 Mt by 2040 without action
80% of wastewater discharged untreated globally, affecting 1.8 billion people health via rivers
Glacier volume loss 9% since 2000, 27,000 Gt ice, contributing 24 mm sea level rise 1994-2017
Desalination capacity 142 million m³/day in 2023, energy use 3-4 kWh/m³ SWRO, Middle East 55%
River damming fragments 60% global rivers, trapping 95% sediment, harming deltas like Mekong
Microplastics in 88% bottled water samples, 10.4 particles/L average, 93% nanoplastics
Global water productivity $18/km³ GDP in 2020, agriculture lowest at $0.6/km³
Annual water withdrawal 4,126 km³ 2018, 69% irrigation, per capita 522 m³ highest in Central Asia
2.2 billion people lack safely managed drinking water 2022, 3.5B sanitation, causing 829,000 deaths/yr
Arctic ice melt released 1,500 Gt freshwater 1991-2021, slowing AMOC by 30%
Wastewater reuse 0.5% globally, Israel 87%, potential 40% urban supply by 2050
Aquifer recharge artificial 1-2% of extraction, managed aquifer recharge 50 km³/yr worldwide
PFAS detected in 45% global tap water samples, health risks from 6 ppt limit
Transboundary aquifers 592 shared, 2.8B people dependent, cooperation in 50%
Coastal eutrophication from ag runoff affects 245,000 km² dead zones 2023, Mississippi 20,000 km²
Global desalination energy intensity halved to 3 kWh/m³ RO 2005-2022, renewables integration 20%
Water stress affects 2.3B people, 744M high stress, industry/agri 80% use MENA
Global virtual water trade 2,320 km³/year agri products, 17% total footprint
90% transboundary river basins lack cooperation agreements, Nile/Indus tensions high
Global stormwater runoff urban 265 km³/yr, 85% polluted, CSOs 960B liters untreated US alone

Water Resources Interpretation

We are a brilliantly innovative species that has engineered a world where we simultaneously drain, pollute, and fragment our irreplaceable water systems while perfecting the technology to lament these very facts over a bottle of microplastic-infused water.

Sources & References

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