It’s a tough week. Fires are burning around the world and last week the IPCC delivered a grim emergency message, making the climate crisis more real than ever. The message is clear: climate change is here and we must make a change…or else.
So what can we do?
We must protect, conserve and recover our forests worldwide. Forests play a critical role in global warming: they pull carbon out of the atmosphere and store it in their plants and soil. When forests are burned or cut down, their stored carbon is released into the atmosphere.
In addition, forests directly benefit our health, cleaning the air and providing a reliable source of oxygen. They also help clean our water by absorbing and filtering much of the water that gets into our groundwater and streams. Not to mention they improve our mental health- time spent in forests can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and improve your mood.
Deforestation now accounts for about 20% of carbon dioxide emissions each year. We must make our voices be heard and support organizations that are taking action against companies driving deforestation and climate change.
The time is now for us to put our time, energy and resources into protecting our forests. To learn more about ways to get involved and protect our forests, check out Amazon Watch, Dogwood Alliance, Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network, and Wildearth Guardians. Each organization is taking significant action while also providing educational resources to the public.
Ready to take action?
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