Greenpeace's #10YearChallenge Is Not Funny At All (Pictures)

If you have been pretty much anywhere on the web in the last couple of weeks, you will have undoubtedly come across the #10YearChallenge on social media.

But if not, the premise is simple - post a 2009 picture of yourself next to a recent one, just to show how much you've changed.

Millions have taken part, but some have criticized it for being - among other things - narcissistic, ageist and sometimes a bit sexist.

However, Greenpeace's #10YearChallenge is serious, and it concerns climate change, although we're talking about a century, not a year.

According to Nasa, Antarctica is losing approximately 127 gigatonnes of ice mass every year, while Greenland loses 286 gigatonnes annually.

This, they say, is mostly down to rising global temperatures being absorbed by oceans. The planet's average surface temperature has been increased by about 0.9C since the late 19th century - and around a third of that has happened in the last ten years.

Environmental activist groups are using the hashtag too to highlight this issue.

This post from Greenpeace compares archival photographs from 1928 with pictures taken by Swedish photographer Christian Aslund in 2002.

Take a look at the horrifying pictures below:

This is the truth about the #10YearChallenge. This is the Arctic 100 years ago vs Today. . . . #10yearschallenge #worldismelting #climatechange #greenpeace #nature #beauty #iceberg #peopelvsoil #environment #photo #photography

A post shared by Greenpeace International (@greenpeace) on Jan 16, 2019 at 11:42pm PST

Before and after: Dec 2014 - Feb 2015. Sometimes dramatic transformations can happen in a little as 2 months, not 10 years. Film is a powerful tool for creating impact, but it will take swift action from all of us in order to turn things around for our planet. Find out more at www.chasingcoral.com/take-action. Link in profile. - Photo credit: @TheOceanAgency / XL CATLIN SEAVIEW SURVEY/ Coral Reef Image Bank #ChasingCoral #10yearchallenge #TheOceanAgency #BeforeAndAfter #CoralReef #SaveOurPlanet

A post shared by Chasing Coral (@chasingcoral) on Jan 16, 2019 at 9:47am PST

Finally this meme has some significance. Posted by @risingtidena #tenyearchallenge #climate #climateaction

A post shared by Greenpeace USA (@greenpeaceusa) on Jan 15, 2019 at 7:46pm PST

#Regram #RG @leonardodicapriofdn: The Rondonia region of #Brazil originally had over 200,000 km2 of rainforest but has become one of the most deforested places in the Amazon. Side by side images shows C. 2006 to 2018. #10YearChallenge

A post shared by Leonardo DiCaprio (@leonardodicaprio) on Jan 18, 2019 at 11:03am PST

Jaguars are back! In the wake of the 10-year challenge on environmental issues, there are also positive stories to be happy about. 10 years later, jaguars are back in Iberá National Park 🏞 with two newborn cubs 🐆 at the park thanks to @tompkins_conservation. #10yearchallenge #WildForLife #Keystonespecies #10yearschallenge

A post shared by UN Environment (@unenvironment) on Jan 18, 2019 at 1:54am PST

#10yearchallenge is a great opportunity to reflect. Have you ever stopped to think where you were 10 years ago? What were the dreams you had for yourself and for the world? What are you most proud of today? If you ask me, I would say that, besides creating and nurturing my own family, I´m also very proud of the Agua Limpa Project, that my family and I created 10 years ago to help to better the quality of the water in my hometown - Brazil. In the beginning it was challenging, but we had a dream and a deep desire to be helpful. 10 years later, I’m happy to say that we did it! We planted more than 40,000 trees on the river banks that not only improved the water quality and helped to preserve the area for the future generations but also created an ecological corridor that brought wildlife back! It´s incredible to see when we give Nature a helping hand, she does the rest and thrives. The more we take care of Nature the better she can take care of us. We are all connected. 🌱💧🌳🙏🏼 ☀️🌎 #10yearschallenge é uma ótima oportunidade para refletir. Você já parou para pensar onde você estava há 10 anos? Quais eram os sonhos que você tinha para si e para o mundo? Do que você mais se orgulha hoje? Se você me perguntasse isso diria que, além de criar e cuidar da minha própria família, também tenho muito orgulho do Projeto Água Limpa, que minha família e eu criamos 10 anos atrás para ajudar a melhorar a qualidade da água na cidade em que cresci. No começo foi desafiador, mas tínhamos um sonho e um profundo desejo de fazermos algo positivo. Dez anos depois, fico feliz em dizer que conseguimos! Plantamos mais de 40.000 árvores nas margens do rio que não só melhoraram a qualidade da água, ajudando a preservar a área para as futuras gerações, mas também criaram um corredor ecológico que trouxe a vida selvagem de volta! É incrível ver que, quando damos uma mãozinha a natureza, ela se encarrega do resto e prospera. Quanto mais cuidamos da natureza, melhor ela pode cuidar de nós. Estamos todos conectados.

A post shared by Gisele Bündchen (@gisele) on Jan 18, 2019 at 8:13am PST