The need for global action against climate change is imperative, and without it, habitats will continuously be destroyed, and populations of organisms, including humans, will be drastically affected. Earth's climate has steadily changed over the years since the Industrial Revolution. Human population growth, global consumerism, and technological changes have all significantly contributed to the decline in Earth's health. The use of fossil fuels by humans is the primary factor increasing CO2 levels, and climate change over the past century. If large-scale, structural changes are not made to our consumption of fossil fuels, the effects we are already facing will continue to make themselves known and impact life as we know it. We have already seen increased global average temperatures, decreased water and air quality, and changes in weather patterns in recent years. Ecosystems have also been thrown off their natural trajectory, and extinctions have begun to build up around the world. The consequences of inaction in the face of already troubling circumstances would be a continued decline in ecosystem health, human health, and more extreme weather patterns. Eventually, with no major changes, humans will become extinct as well, as we are ruining our food sources, habitats, and natural resources. Developed countries around the world must come together to create policies and invest time and money into solving these problems. Shifting away from the use of fossil fuels to more renewable energy sources is one example of a way to build a sustainable future. While this will take government intervention, changing societal practices towards more sustainable options will benefit our environment and help save humans from destroying themselves.