A new era
is upon us: Reduce carbon emissions and increase
biodiversity
Photo by Michael Allen Flickr |
When I was growing up we lived in a brand-new housing
development for a few years. Our family was one of the first to move to the
newly created community. I loved it there because we had a park and forest in
the back; and a stream that lead to the rushing river. It was my own, personal
ecosystem to explore, climb and collect ‘samples’ from. Most of all, it was my
place to get good and muddy!
I remember when the construction crew clear-cut a big
section of trees and burned their remains, like unwanted wooden carcasses. As I
watched clouds of smoke rising up the backdrop of a blue sky, my childhood self
was so angry at the blatant disregard for my forest, and the wastefulness. Wooden
tree limbs burned in the raging fire and I hoped they would plant some trees,
somewhere else, to replace the ones I lost in my forest. Another row of
identical houses would go up, but the kids who moved into those homes would
never know the true potential of the forest.
Now I’m an adult in my own tiny home and I can count five
different species of trees on my property. I grow my own food and try to
promote biodiversity at home. I may not have access to my forest, but I
understand that biodiversity is important in even the smallest backyard. Trees provide
us with the clean air we breathe, and in the face of climate change, planting
trees is a great way to counterbalance greenhouse gas emissions.
“We
lose a forest the size of New York City every 48 hours,”
TreeEra
I’ve been researching carbon offsets. A carbon offset is a
great solution, but many don’t even know it’s an option- even for people with
busy lives and limited finances.
What are carbon offsets? A carbon offset is a reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide) made in order to compensate for, or
to offset, emissions made elsewhere. Carbon offsets are available from various sources.
Some have tools to calculate your total carbon footprint over a period of time.
There are many ways to offset carbon, but one Canadian company, TreeEra, is
taking a different approach that promotes biodiversity and preserves nature.
Based out of Calgary, Alberta, TreeEra is a tree planting
subscription service that you can purchase to offset your personal or business’
carbon footprint. TreeEra launched in November, 2016 and already has
subscribers from the United States, Canada, France, Italy and Australia. There
are a lot of ways you can purchase carbon offsets, but what I love about TreeEra
is that the trees they plant become part of the lifecycle of a better planet.
“One tree can absorb as much carbon in a year
as a car produces while driving 40,000 kilometers (26,000 miles),”
TreeEra
Deforestation plays a huge part in man-made climate change.
Trees are our natural carbon filters; they are the lungs of the planet. Not
only are we putting more carbon in the atmosphere for our trees to filter, but
we are also reducing the size of our filter, to make room for roads, factory
farming and consumer agriculture.
TreeEra gives back to the Earth on your behalf. It’s easy and
affordable. TreeEra doesn’t require you to complete a lengthy survey of your
lifestyle like some carbon offset subscriptions. Carbon offsets can sometimes
leave unanswered questions, like how are my offsets being calculated? Where is
my money actually going? TreeEra keeps it simple. No equations, no confusion,
no unreasonable prices- just simple and positive action.
Subscribing with TreeEra also comes with some perks! By
subscribing you benefit from exclusive passes to concert, events and more!
TreeEra was founded by Ryan Heal, founder of BUSY YYC, and Calgary musician
Michael Bernard Fitzgerald. They have partnered with Brinkman & AssociatesReforestation Ltd., one of the world’s leading tree planting companies, to
ensure that only trees native to each area are planted. Their research ensures
that tree species are planted in a way that makes a positive impact on their
specific ecosystem.
Anna Lappe said “Every time you spend money, you’re casting
a vote for the kind of world you want.” This is something I truly believe. Yes,
you can protest; you can vote. But the greatest power you have is your power as
a consumer. How you spend your money will ultimately accomplish more than,
sadly, a ballot in a box or a well worded sign.
“An
individual subscription to TreeEra plants 200 trees in your name every year. A
single tree offsets an average of one ton of carbon over its lifetime – that
same tree can provide enough oxygen for a family,”
TreeEra
Purchasing carbon offsets sends a message that you want a
sustainable future and that you are willing to do your part to shift the
economy in that direction. We are in a TreeEra; on our way to a sustainable
revolution. This is a call to action! Take back your forest!
CLICK HERE to learn more about TreeEra!
The TreeEra team is committed to promoting sustainability and providing climate change solutions. |
Canada
carbon offset
climate change
climate facts
Climate Reality
Climate Reality Corps
forest
fossil fuels
global warming
green
nature
offset
pollution
tree planting
TreeEra
trees
wilderness
0 Comentarios