The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report describing the disastrous results global warming will have on the planet as soon as 2040.

The report claims we will be in a climate crisis, with widespread food shortage, blazing wildfires, heat waves sweeping across the planet, a mass death of coral reefs, and severe droughts.

By 2040, it will be too late to prevent this destruction.

Essentially, this report is discussing the best case scenario. If, as a planet, we are able to come together and make drastic changes to our carbon production, the environment will be as the report says: severe weather, no coral reefs, and food shortage.

However, if no change is made to our carbon production, the climate crisis will be even worse than the report predicted.

Currently, we are on track for the climate to be at 2 degrees of warming by 2040.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports 2 degrees of warming to be the start of a climate catastrophe: the melting of ice sheets, flooding of coastal cities, and deadly heat waves.

The report sounds terrifying—and it is.

However, it is not too late to prevent climate catastrophe. If we are able to reduce the degrees of warming to 1.5 degrees, we will not experience these catastrophic events; it will make a drastic difference in saving the future of our planet.

Every individual can contribute to lowering the degree of warming. Here are six things you can do to make a difference:

1. Reduce (or stop) how much meat you eat. Red meat is responsible for 10 to 40 times as many greenhouse gases as vegetables and grain. Cows produce methane and require a lot of feed, so reducing your meat intake can benefit the environment.
2. Carpool. Cars are very damaging to our air because they add to the pollution. Consider carpooling, biking, or walking to help prevent climate catastrophe
3. Use a refillable water bottle. The plastic from plastic water bottles are causing landfills to overflow. The landfills are severely damaging to marine life, so save a sea turtle and buy a reusable water bottle.
4. Be mindful of your showers. By simply taking a shorter shower, you can help save water and electricity used to heat showers. Try and cut your 20 minute showers in half.
5. Recycle. Making an effort to recycle paper and cans can have significant impacts in preventing a climate disaster and lowering pollution. Next time, simply pay attention to the bin your throw your trash in.
6. Be informed! By being aware of these climate change issues, you can make changes to your daily life and lower the degrees of warming. Read up on articles on global warming and make an effort to save Mother Earth.