Let’s start off with some 2nd grade science class, since some people still don’t understand science lessons taught to seven-year-olds. Apparently, there’s a whole party of people who don’t get this. We actually had to stop calling climate change “global warming” because it became tiring to explain to apparently elementary school dropouts that winter can still exist while global temperatures rise. Otherwise you had idiots throwing snowballs at each other.
In This Article:
What is Climate Change?
Carbon dioxide, CO2, is a gas that’s emitted by animals as well as the burning of carbon based lifeforms. That includes oil, coal, wood, fertilizer, etc. CO2, once in the atmosphere, can trap heat, much like a greenhouse. This works by allowing the warmth from the sun in, but then trapping it.
Without an atmosphere, Earth would be barren and cold, like our moon. However, our atmosphere traps some of this heat, which makes the planet livable. You might see where this is going. There’s a delicate balance here. If your atmosphere is too thick, like that of Venus, you get an overrun greenhouse effect. This is why, despite not being the closest planet to the sun, Venus has the hottest surface temperatures of any planet in our solar system. An overabundance of CO2 in the planet’s atmosphere made it an unlivable planet. The sulfuric acid in the atmosphere doesn’t help for livability either, but now we’re digressing.
Animals and plant life have had a symbiotic relationship with carbon dioxide. We produce it through our metabolic process, exhaling it, and plants absorb CO2, emitting the oxygen we need. It’s a wonderful and harmonic balance. But humanity has been burning fossil fuels, releasing more CO2 than our plants, which we’re reducing in area, can convert to oxygen. That’s why the global average temperature has spiked since the industrial revolution, and continues to increase at an alarming rate. This has lead to incredibly erratic weather patterns, like larger storms, increased flooding, wildfires from prolonged droughts, and even a now shockingly common phenomenon, a destabilized arctic wind, which pulls arctic air down into median latitudes, leading to unseasonably cold winters.
Harm of Climate Change
This is the direct result of humans burning fossil fuels. It can, however, be slowed and reversed. By pulling this CO2 out of the air and burring the carbon in the ground or in plant life, we can return the planet to a more stable situation. If we don’t, erratic weather patterns will make some areas unlivable, create large scale and global droughts, flood coastlines, and lead to wars. The civil war in Syria was actually driven largely by climate change. Once water became scarce due to an unprecedented drought, the people finally had enough of their government and revolted. This could happen in the U.S. with wildfires and droughts in California, or Florida and the South Eastern U.S. with larger and more devastating hurricanes.
Climate change also melts polar ice caps, increases the acidity of our oceans, and has already contributed to the extinction of countless animal species. While humans are extremely adaptable, we’ll reach our breaking point too.
A Solution? Trees.
The most obvious solution is probably one you discussed in your second grade science class. I know we did. Plant more trees! As adults, we know the most important and easiest thing we could do would be to put caps on fossil fuel burning, invest in smart grid technology, and solely use renewable and nuclear energy for electricity production, but let’s go back to that second grade idea. Trees. It’s something even snowball throwing politicians could understand. Trees are good.
A recent study examined the amount of CO2 trees can suck up. It found the amount of trees we’d need, where we’d need to plant them, and what kind of trees we need to slow or potentially even halt global warming, if done in conjunction with a reduction of CO2 emissions. We’re talking about a silver bullet that amounts to “Global participation in arbor day and a few billion dollars.”
The Study
This map shows the areas we can increase tree cover.
With the right trees in the right areas, we could recapture two thirds of all the CO2 humans have produced since the industrial revolution. That’s 205 gigatons of CO2 over a time period of 40 to 100 years. Hundreds of years of damage undone by some trees. This comes from a study conducted by Tom Crowther, of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.
The study looked at 80,000 satellite photos of tree cover around the world. Those photos, along with databases on soil measurements and climate conditions of each area allowed the team to look into the carbon storage capabilities of trees. They figured out how many trees the earth could naturally support. We’re well under capacity. We could add trees to an addition 0.9 billion hectacres of land. That’s about a billion sports arenas. One hectacre is 2.47 acres. Earth can naturally support about 4.4 billion hectacres of forests. We have a lot of work to do.
Crowther Lab estimates that with just $300 billion, we can plant enough trees to cover enough of the planet in trees to slow or stop climate change, if combined with a reduction in CO2. There are 585 billionaires in the United States. If each of them gave up $512 million, they could save the planet. Jeff Bezos alone could contribute $100 billion and still be one of the richest billionaires in the world. This is so easy to fix it hurts.
Start Now
Because trees can take up to 100 years to reach full maturity, we could reach a point where desertification, wildfires, and drought prevent any forest growth. That’s why we have to start now, before it’s too late to plant any more trees. The amount of trees the earth can support is shrinking.
How You Can Help
Oh I love this part. You, yes, you, can do a TON to help! This is what’s so exciting. Have a yard? Plant a few trees. Don’t have a yard? You can still help out. There are already many charities dedicated to planting trees! In fact, many of them will plant a tree for just $1. $1! For a buck a month, you can plant a tree every month! For $10/month you can create a forest in a few years!
From One Tree Planted, link below.
- One Tree Planted: They’ll plant trees all around the world for every dollar you send them. One tree, one dollar! Simple!
- National Forest Foundation: This is another favorite of mine, but they only focus on U.S. national forests. Still, I love this one because it includes support from the U.S. government. For every $1 you give, they’ll plant a tree in a U.S. national forest. Then the U.S. government will match that dollar with up to $2 in support for that tree, to keep our forests growing.
- The Nature Conservatory: These folks are trying to plant a billion trees all over the world. They’re not directly planting trees for each donation, but also working with companies and governments to stop deforestation and go green.
- Tree Aid: Tree Aid has already planted over 17 million trees in Africa. But that’s not enough. They’re working to fight desertification, provide food, stabilize environments, and unite communities through trees.
- Trees for Life: This is hyper focused, but I love their approach. They’re looking to restore the Caledonian Forest, which has become fragmented and home to only old, dying trees. To prevent it from becoming a wasteland in a few decades, they’re planting and protecting trees. Decades from now, they’ll have restored this gorgeous landscape.
- The Eden Project: This group fights deforestation directly. They create jobs and get the local communities involved in places of extreme deforestation and poverty. Unsurprisingly, the two often go hand-in-hand.
- NYC Parks and Recreation: Did you know you can request a tree on your property? You can send a free request to NYC Parks and Rec for a tree. You can do this for existing plots or for your sidewalk. If you don’t have a tree outside, consider asking for one!
- Million Trees NYC: Already have a tree outside? You can donate or volunteer with Million Trees NYC, to plant trees in city parks.
- Tree People: Oh, LA isn’t known for trees, right? Well, there are actually many great hiking areas in LA, and Tree People have been working for decades to plant trees in the greater LA area, even planting trees along streets and creating parks. They’re fighting to combat flooding, severe heat, drought, and beautifying LA in the process.
- Buy A Skateboard from Landyachtz: On come, on, I had to throw you one curve ball, right? For every skateboard or deck you buy from Landyachtz, they’ll plant one tree. A single tree that they use can make 60 skateboards. Landyachtz is pretty much a tree planting company that happens to give you a skateboard too. PLUS skateboarding is a green alternative to other forms of transportation! Through Landyachtz, I’ve planted 3 trees, I’ve replaced Lyfts, trains, and buses, and I’ve had an absolute blast doing it. The most beginner-friendly deck they make is probably the Dropcat or Switch (also in larger versions for longer distances and taller riders), but I got started on a Dinghy, and, a bunch of injuries later, it’s still my favorite board. Check out their decks and find one perfect for your commute! It’s never too late to start, I know of skaters in their 50’s!
- And Many More: There are even more links on Crowther Lab’s page. Check it out and find a few you like.
I found many of these through just a cursory search. You can do the same. You’ll notice that I included a few local charities on the list, especially those in cities like NYC and LA, cities not known for tree cover. That’s because you can likely find small organizations anywhere you’re looking to plant trees. Maybe they want more trees in local parks, or do regular trips outside of your city to plant trees. Find a charity that works for you and get involved!
Ecosia
Get Involved
Send One Tree Planted a buck. Ask a local charity about planting trees. We’ve always known that planting trees could save the environment. Trees can slow runoff and erosion, stop desertification, and provide a home to millions of species. Trees are our miracle silver bullet, our way to stop climate change, even as certain politicians are dead set on destroying the planet. They’re our secret weapon. Not even evil, corrupt politicians can come out against trees.
This study told us something we already know. Trees will save the planet. Now we just need to get out there. If we can get our governments and billionaires involved, we could claw back from near extinction in just a few decades, as these newly planted trees reach maturity. We really can make a difference.
Sources:
- Crowther Lab
- Mark Fischetti, Scientific American