Animal impact maintains grasslands by: Planting seeds and ensuring good seed-to-soil contact. Breaking soil crusts that interfere with seed germination and rainfall absorption. Pruning plants to keep them productive.

Elephants, bison, cheetahs, gazelles, lions, and tigers are some of the large animals living on grasslands. Rabbits, gophers, prairie dogs, and many bird, lizard, and snake species are some of the small animals that live there as well.

Small animals can climb underground into their burrows to stay safe, but grasses and other plants common to grasslands can’t run away. Instead, they are specially adapted to survive fire. Grassland plants have evolved so that as long as their roots survive, they can grow back after a fire very quickly.

Increased heat, drought and insect outbreaks, all linked to climate change, have increased wildfires. Declining water supplies, reduced agricultural yields, health impacts in cities due to heat, and flooding and erosion in coastal areas are additional concerns.

Fossil fuel firms clearly play a major role in the climate problem. A major report released in 2017 attributed 70% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions over the previous two decades to just 100 fossil fuel producers. An update last year outlined the top 20 fossil fuel firms behind a third of emissions.

The 20 countries that emitted the most carbon dioxide in 2018

The legislative, executive, and judicial branches all have a role to play in reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and building resilient communities. Congress is responsible for authorizing laws to address the climate challenge and appropriating funding for relevant programs.