Naturally Absorb co2 - Plant trees
Trees are the best natural carbon absorbers in the world. One tree can absorb up to 48 lbs. of carbon per year. That provides fresh air for four people to breathe! Planting trees also helps to avoid soil erosion, improve soil health for agricultural yields, and create biodiversity. Some studies have shown that if we were to cover just 11% of the earth in trees. we would reduce our carbon emissions by 2/3 globally.
Curious about how to get involved planting trees? Check out these great organizations planting and protecting forests in your city, state, or home!
One Tree Planted | New York Restoration Project | National Forest Foundation | Junglekeepers
reduce waste - Compost
Every year US landfills receive over 160 million tons of garbage. Of that “garbage” 50% is compostable material. Composting is the decomposition of organic materials by micro organisms, turning your waste into valuable soil! The benefits of composting are almost endless but here are a few : prevents erosion, suppresses plant disease organically (that means no pesticides!), improves soil fertility and naturally filters out pollutants from water - making your drinking water clean and safe.
Burning garbage and food scraps produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. By turning 50% of that waste into composted soil we can not only cut down on the methane we release, but actually sequester carbon through healthy, lively soil.
CURIOUS ABOUT COMPOSTING?
It’s easy! Start storing your food-scraps in any container you have lying around (plastic, glass or metal works best). Look online for your city’s local drop-off sites and hours (most community gardens and farmers markets will have them). Bring your scraps to the drop-off site and you’ve done it!
empower the future - Educate girls
This one is seldom talked about as a solution to Climate Change, but studies have shown that educating and empowering women and girls around the world could reduce our carbon emissions by over 70 gigatons in 20 years. That is the single largest projected impact on Climate Change we have seen. Educating and empowering women and girls lays the foundation for more vibrant and sustainable futures for the entire world.
Educated girls contribute to economic growth, disease prevention, agricultural productivity, climate change preparedness and overall wellness within their communities. Right now, economic, cultural, and safety-related barriers impede 62 million girls from their right to education. Easy ways to tackle this issue:
Make schools affordable.
Help girls overcome health barriers.
Reduce time and distance to get to school.
Make schools more girl friendly.
Here are some great initiatives working to educate girls around the world!
One Girl | Project Drawdown | Tostan | Population Services International | Girls Not Brides
sustainable public policy - The green new deal
The Green New Deal is an ambitious plan for how we can eliminate poverty and create millions of jobs while tackling the biggest threat of our time: climate change. It involves massive public investment in clean energy, transit and climate adaptation work. But the vision is bigger than that: it’s about transforming our entire economy to be safer and more fair, and give everyone a better life. First proposed in the U.S., the Green New Deal is now spreading around the world.
Here are some ways to get involved!
Check out The Leap to stay up to date on climate action news!
Sign the petition to bring The Green New Deal to Canada.
Join the Sunrise Movement : The Movement for The Green New Deal, led by the world’s youth.
Write to your city or state and urge them to comply with The Green New Deal action plan.
