Today’s carbon emitted into the atmosphere adds to the future cost of living through the climate crisis, a concept referred to as the social cost of carbon. To help clarify this abstract idea, we have an idea that lets you help future generations cover the social cost of carbon for the gasoline you use. At some point, governments or private […]
This article is the fifth in a six-part series that explores how we get our electricity and what we need to know about how renewable — and non-renewable — electric power is generated. Electricity use is a major component of Americans’ ecological footprint. But we tend to pay it less attention than other areas, like recycling and plastic use, where it […]
Inflation Reduction Act doesn’t sound like the name of a bill to curb greenhouse gas emissions. But the economy is linked to the environment, and the IRA aims to make that link a more sustainable one. Buried in this money bill is a clause that lays the legal foundation for stronger federal oversight of the emissions most significant to climate […]
Climate change is complicated. But even if we don’t fully understand climate science, we know we need to produce fewer greenhouse gases. We are bombarded by messages warning us not to pollute and ads promising more sustainable products. But how do we know what really makes a difference to our climate impact and what is simply greenwashing? What people need […]
The average hardwood tree captures an estimated 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Over the life of the tree that’s roughly 1 ton of CO2. While that’s just a fraction of the average American’s production of 27 tons of CO2 annually, combined with reducing greenhouse gas emissions, tree-planting can make a difference. Source: Easy Carbon Sequestration You Can Do […]
Plant one tree and it will capture about 13 pounds of CO2 in its first year; when it matures, it will capture 48 pounds a year. That means by planting one young tree, you can offset the CO2 from shipping an average online shopping order. Or, if you plant 390 trees and let them mature, you can offset the 8.5-ton […]