100 Ways we can make a difference.
1. Voting for representatives who prioritize environmental protection.
2. Supporting legislation that limits drilling and fracking.
3. Investing in and advocating for renewable energy sources.
4. Showcasing the economic benefits of renewable energy.
5. Boycotting products from companies responsible for severe environmental damage.
6. Participating in peaceful protests and demonstrations.
7. Raising awareness about the dangers of oil extraction and consumption.
8. Demand transparency from oil companies about their environmental impact.
9. Encouraging government to implement carbon taxes.
10. Lobbying for higher fossil fuel regulation.
11. Advocacy for cleaner transportation alternatives.
12. Joining environmental organizations aiming to limit fossil fuel extraction.
13. Using social media platforms to campaign against fossil fuels.
14. Promoting the benefits of electric or hybrid vehicles.
15. Supporting research and development of cleaner energy technologies.
16. Encouraging local communities to use renewable energy sources.
17. Strategic divestment from fossil fuels.
18. Signing and promoting petitions against fossil fuel usage.
19. Pushing for stronger laws against oil spills and environmental degradation.
20. Encouraging companies to adopt 'Zero Waste' policies.
21. Using consumer power to demand greener products.
22. Encouraging individuals to reduce their own oil and gas consumption.
23. Hosting educational forums and workshops about the effects of fossil fuels.
24. Planting trees to help offset carbon emissions.
25. Encouraging innovation and start-ups in the clean energy sector.
26. Endorsing carbon capture technologies.
27. Running grassroot campaigns for cleaner, more efficient energy.
28. Incorporating climate education in schools.
29. Supporting clean energy job growth.
30. Encourage the government to limit subsidies to the fossil fuel industry.
31. Push governmental bodies to back sustainable development goals.
32. Advocating for net-zero emissions target policies.
33. Taking legal action against environmental violations by oil companies.
34. Encouraging green building practices.
35. Supporting reparations for communities affected by environmental damage.
36. Encouraging companies to monitor and reduce carbon footprints.
37. Mapping out carbon neutral pathways for your own community.
38. Organize youth-driven climate movements.
39. Collaborating on international agreements to limit fossil fuel usage.
40. Financing climate resilience and adaptation measures.
41. Advocating for stricter emission standards.
42. Endorsing company-specific fossil fuel phase-out targets.
43. Promoting energy efficiency in homes and businesses.
44. Pushing for offshore drilling bans.
45. Hosting beach cleanups to showcase the effects of oil pollution.
46. Encouraging green infrastructure initiatives.
47. Supporting politicians who back strong environmental regulations.
48. Pushing universities and institutions to divest from fossil fuels.
49. Making use of renewable energy tax credits.
50. Implementing circular economy practices on a wide scale.
51. Demanding stricter safety measures for oil transport.
52. Raising public support for renewable energy projects.
53. Advocating for corporate responsibility in climate change efforts.
54. Encouraging energy conservation programs in schools and workplaces.
55. Investing in public transportation to reduce fossil fuel usage.
56. Writing letters to legislators urging for climate change policies.
57. Promoting eco-tourism.
58. Implementing cap and trade policies.
59. Advocating the use of biofuels.
60. Turning to citizen science projects for environmental conservation.
61. Using local zoning rules to prevent new drilling sites.
62. Supporting climate justice initiatives.
63. Engaging in climate strikes.
64. Encourage local businesses to move away from fossil fuel usage.
65. Promote the development of smart grids.
66. Calling for moratoriums on new oil and gas leases.
67. Collaborating with indigenous communities on land conservation efforts.
68. Supporting local farmers and sustainable agriculture.
69. Organizing community recycling programs.
70. Encouraging the use of Energy Star appliances.
71. Reducing meat intake to help the environment.
72. Greening supply chains and promoting sustainable procurement practices.
73. Supporting solar and wind energy infrastructure.
74. Lobbying for land restoration policies.
75. Calling for accountability for environmental crimes.
76. Rejecting plastic goods produced from petroleum.
77. Promoting the creation of green spaces in urban areas.
78. Encouraging corporations to redesign products for longer life-spans.
79. Praising corporations that take a stand against fossil fuels.
80. Encouraging all forms of waste reduction.
81. Advocating for carpooling, biking, or walking when possible.
82. Encouraging the use of electric public transportation.
83. Campaigning for the rights of indigenous people affected by oil drilling.
84. Hosting energy audits and improve energy efficiency.
85. Demanding better waste management and composting services.
86. Calling for the transition from coal plants to renewable sources.
87. Supporting legislation for cleaner oceans.
88. Promoting the use of electric appliances over gas-powered ones.
89. Backing the creation of Marine Protected Areas.
90. Pushing to outlaw disposal of fracking waste in waterways.
91. Encouraging the scientific community to develop and promote carbon capture and storage.
92. Calling for the labeling of carbon footprints in products.
93. Promoting practices that sequester carbon in soil.
94. Implementing climate change adaptation and response plans.
95. Advocating for a transition to a sustainable economy.
96. Instituting mandatory recycling programs.
97. Amending building codes to promote energy efficiency.
98. Championing public awareness campaigns on the dangers of climate change.
99. Urging grocery stores to offer discounts for customers using reusable bags.
100. Supporting clean power like hydropower, geothermal, and tidal power.
100 Ways we can make a difference.
1. Voting for representatives who prioritize environmental protection.
2. Supporting legislation that limits drilling and fracking.
3. Investing in and advocating for renewable energy sources.
4. Showcasing the economic benefits of renewable energy.
5. Boycotting products from companies responsible for severe environmental damage.
6. Participating in peaceful protests and demonstrations.
7. Raising awareness about the dangers of oil extraction and consumption.
8. Demand transparency from oil companies about their environmental impact.
9. Encouraging government to implement carbon taxes.
10. Lobbying for higher fossil fuel regulation.
11. Advocacy for cleaner transportation alternatives.
12. Joining environmental organizations aiming to limit fossil fuel extraction.
13. Using social media platforms to campaign against fossil fuels.
14. Promoting the benefits of electric or hybrid vehicles.
15. Supporting research and development of cleaner energy technologies.
16. Encouraging local communities to use renewable energy sources.
17. Strategic divestment from fossil fuels.
18. Signing and promoting petitions against fossil fuel usage.
19. Pushing for stronger laws against oil spills and environmental degradation.
20. Encouraging companies to adopt 'Zero Waste' policies.
21. Using consumer power to demand greener products.
22. Encouraging individuals to reduce their own oil and gas consumption.
23. Hosting educational forums and workshops about the effects of fossil fuels.
24. Planting trees to help offset carbon emissions.
25. Encouraging innovation and start-ups in the clean energy sector.
26. Endorsing carbon capture technologies.
27. Running grassroot campaigns for cleaner, more efficient energy.
28. Incorporating climate education in schools.
29. Supporting clean energy job growth.
30. Encourage the government to limit subsidies to the fossil fuel industry.
31. Push governmental bodies to back sustainable development goals.
32. Advocating for net-zero emissions target policies.
33. Taking legal action against environmental violations by oil companies.
34. Encouraging green building practices.
35. Supporting reparations for communities affected by environmental damage.
36. Encouraging companies to monitor and reduce carbon footprints.
37. Mapping out carbon neutral pathways for your own community.
38. Organize youth-driven climate movements.
39. Collaborating on international agreements to limit fossil fuel usage.
40. Financing climate resilience and adaptation measures.
41. Advocating for stricter emission standards.
42. Endorsing company-specific fossil fuel phase-out targets.
43. Promoting energy efficiency in homes and businesses.
44. Pushing for offshore drilling bans.
45. Hosting beach cleanups to showcase the effects of oil pollution.
46. Encouraging green infrastructure initiatives.
47. Supporting politicians who back strong environmental regulations.
48. Pushing universities and institutions to divest from fossil fuels.
49. Making use of renewable energy tax credits.
50. Implementing circular economy practices on a wide scale.
51. Demanding stricter safety measures for oil transport.
52. Raising public support for renewable energy projects.
53. Advocating for corporate responsibility in climate change efforts.
54. Encouraging energy conservation programs in schools and workplaces.
55. Investing in public transportation to reduce fossil fuel usage.
56. Writing letters to legislators urging for climate change policies.
57. Promoting eco-tourism.
58. Implementing cap and trade policies.
59. Advocating the use of biofuels.
60. Turning to citizen science projects for environmental conservation.
61. Using local zoning rules to prevent new drilling sites.
62. Supporting climate justice initiatives.
63. Engaging in climate strikes.
64. Encourage local businesses to move away from fossil fuel usage.
65. Promote the development of smart grids.
66. Calling for moratoriums on new oil and gas leases.
67. Collaborating with indigenous communities on land conservation efforts.
68. Supporting local farmers and sustainable agriculture.
69. Organizing community recycling programs.
70. Encouraging the use of Energy Star appliances.
71. Reducing meat intake to help the environment.
72. Greening supply chains and promoting sustainable procurement practices.
73. Supporting solar and wind energy infrastructure.
74. Lobbying for land restoration policies.
75. Calling for accountability for environmental crimes.
76. Rejecting plastic goods produced from petroleum.
77. Promoting the creation of green spaces in urban areas.
78. Encouraging corporations to redesign products for longer life-spans.
79. Praising corporations that take a stand against fossil fuels.
80. Encouraging all forms of waste reduction.
81. Advocating for carpooling, biking, or walking when possible.
82. Encouraging the use of electric public transportation.
83. Campaigning for the rights of indigenous people affected by oil drilling.
84. Hosting energy audits and improve energy efficiency.
85. Demanding better waste management and composting services.
86. Calling for the transition from coal plants to renewable sources.
87. Supporting legislation for cleaner oceans.
88. Promoting the use of electric appliances over gas-powered ones.
89. Backing the creation of Marine Protected Areas.
90. Pushing to outlaw disposal of fracking waste in waterways.
91. Encouraging the scientific community to develop and promote carbon capture and storage.
92. Calling for the labeling of carbon footprints in products.
93. Promoting practices that sequester carbon in soil.
94. Implementing climate change adaptation and response plans.
95. Advocating for a transition to a sustainable economy.
96. Instituting mandatory recycling programs.
97. Amending building codes to promote energy efficiency.
98. Championing public awareness campaigns on the dangers of climate change.
99. Urging grocery stores to offer discounts for customers using reusable bags.
100. Supporting clean power like hydropower, geothermal, and tidal power.
Trees Improve Our Air Quality and can help us save the planet!
Urban forests help to improve our air quality. Heat from the earth is trapped in the atmosphere due to high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other heat-trapping gases that prohibit it from releasing the heat into space. This creates a phenomenon known today as the “greenhouse effect.” Therefore, trees help by removing (sequestering) CO2 from the atmosphere during photosynthesis to form carbohydrates that are used in plant structure/function and return oxygen back into the atmosphere as a byproduct. Roughly half of the greenhouse effect is caused by CO2. Therefore, trees act as carbon sinks, alleviating the greenhouse effect.
On average, one acre of new forest can sequester about 2.5 tons of carbon annually. Young trees absorb CO2 at a rate of 13 pounds per tree each year. Trees reach their most productive stage of carbon storage at about 10 years at which point they are estimated to absorb 48 pounds of CO2 per year. At that rate, they release enough oxygen back into the atmosphere to support two human beings. Planting 100 million trees could reduce an estimated 18 million tons of carbon per year and consequently save American consumers $4 billion each year on utility bills.
Trees also reduce the greenhouse effect by shading houses and office buildings. This reduces the need for air conditioning by up to 30 percent which in turn reduces the amount of fossil fuels burned to produce electricity. The combination of CO2 removal from the atmosphere, carbon storage in wood and the cooling effect makes trees extremely efficient tools in fighting the greenhouse effect. Planting trees remains one of the most cost-effective means of drawing excess CO2 from the atmosphere. If every American family planted one tree, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere would be reduced by one billion pounds annually. This equates to almost 5 percent of the amount that human activity pumps into the atmosphere each year.
It is estimated by the U.S. Forest Service that all the forests in the United States, combined, sequestered approximately 309 million tons of carbon each year from 1952 - 1992, offsetting approximately 25 percent of human-caused emissions of carbon during that period. Over a 50-year lifespan, a tree generates almost $32,000 worth of oxygen, providing $62,000 worth of air pollution control. This tree would also be responsible for recycling $37,500 worth of water and controlling $31,000 worth of soil erosion.
The Worldwatch Institute, in its Reforesting the Earth paper, estimated that the earth needs at least 321 million acres of trees planted just to restore and maintain the productivity of soil and water resources, annually remove 780 million tons of carbon from the atmosphere and meet industrial and fuel wood needs in the third world. For every ton of new-wood growth, about 1.5 tons of CO2 are removed from the air and 1.07 tons of life-giving oxygen is produced.
Trees also remove other gaseous pollutants through the stomata in the leaf surface by absorbing them with normal air components. Some of the other major air pollutants and their primary sources are:
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) – Sixty percent of sulfur dioxide comes from coal burning for electricity and home heating while 21 percent comes from refining and the combustion of petroleum products.
• Ozone (O3) – Ozone is a naturally occurring oxidant that exists in the upper atmosphere. O3 may be brought to Earth by turbulence during severe storms. Also, small amounts are formed by lightning. Automobile emissions and industrial emissions mix in the air and undergo photochemical reactions in sunlight releasing ozone and another oxidant, peroxyacetylnitrate (PAN). Naturally, high concentrations of these two oxidants build up where there are many automobiles.
• Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) – Probably the largest producer of nitrogen oxide is automotive exhaust. These are also formed by high temperature combustion when two natural air components are present; nitrogen and oxygen.
• Particulates – These are small particles emitted in smoke from burning fuel, particularly diesel, which enters our lungs and causes respiratory problems. With trees present, there is up to a 60 percent reduction in street-level particulates.
Studies have shown that in one urban park, tree cover removed 48 pounds of particulates, 9 pounds of nitrogen dioxide, 6 pounds of sulfur dioxide, 0.5 pounds of carbon monoxide and 100 pounds of carbon – daily. It has also been noted that one sugar maple along a roadway removes 60mg cadmium, 140mg chromium, 820mg nickel and 5,200mg lead from the environment in one growing season.
Trees Improve Our Air Quality.
Trees Increase Water Retention. Trees Reduce Energy Costs.
Trees Provide Habitat for wildlife.
Visit www.itsmyclimate.com to learn more.
LoveShift.
Working together we CAN make a difference.