Save Our Happy Place - 🌎 Take Simple Climate Action
Hey there Sunshine! Welcome back to Save Our Happy Place, your weekly pop of environmental and climate activism. Congratulations! We’ve made it through the grueling winter and can now bask in the glory of the Spring Solstice and all of its promises. Not only do petals open up this time of year, but also our favorite natural places start beckoning us to enjoy and connect with nature. In celebration of spring, this week we are discussing our beloved national parks, what role they play in protecting us from the climate crisis, and how you can help protect them for future generations. More than Just a Pretty ViewNational Parks and Their Ability to Ward Off Climate ChangeWhen you think about national parks, the stunning landscape of the Grand Canyon may come to mind or a wild and adventurous vacation filled with fresh air, rays of sunshine, and animal sightings. In fact, these destinatinons are so renowned that 300 million visitors from around the world visit the U.S. National Parks’ diverse array of ecosystems, from deserts to swamps, comprised of 63 parks covering 85 million acres and home to 600 protected and/or endangered species, every year. But let me assure you, the parks are more than just a pretty view. They are climate change combating meccas, but they can’t do it on their own. We all have to try to defend and expand our protected lands worldwide. How are National Parks Fighting the Climate Crisis?U.S. National Parks sequester an estimated average of 3.5 million metrics tons of CO2 per year. This is an estimated $141 million savings in carbon damage annually.
Aside from carbon sequestration, urban tree canopy in parks and along city streets are estimated to remove 711,000 metric tons of air pollution annually. Parks are also able to minimize flooding and improve water quality through the incorporation of green infrastructure that reduces storm runoff and filters it for pollutants. Not to mention that designating protected land reduces deforestation by 41% in comparison to unprotected land. How the National Parks are Affected by Climate ChangeNearly one-third of all protected areas are actually under intense human pressure. With the current rate of climate change, we can anticipate a 31% decrease in carbon sequestration from the parks by 2050 due to warming climate temperatures, invasive species, and increased fire hazards. Some other effects we are already seeing are:
The continued and expanded protection of woodlands is top of mind for combating climate change. Unfortunately, a study suggests that only 6.5% of the Earth’s woodlands are truly protected, well below the 2020 target of 17% set by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. In the U.S. specifically, Biden signed an executive order, calling to increase the protected land in the U.S. from 12% to 30%. National Parks are Faced with Avoidable RisksDespite being federally protected land, our U.S. National Parks are under constant siege by oil companies (534 active oil and gas wells in parks), highway projects, water contamination, and a myriad of other pollutants. Just because something destructive isn’t happening directly within the park does not mean that the parks will not be affected. If climate change has taught us anything, it is how inextricably connected we all are - to each other, to the land, the other animals, the air, and the water. Each of these elements needs harmony and balance to thrive. Taking time to honor, celebrate and protect our national parks is a simple, fun, and enriching way to combat climate change. You can become a national parks member, visit a park for your next vacation, or take one of the three climate actions below. Protect Our Happy PlacesTake three minutes today to help protect National Parks! Protect Alaska's Parks from Destructive Mining
Protect parks from oil & gas developments
Help Make National Parks Plastic-Free
Some Rays of SunshineThe Headlines We’re Happy to See
Magnify Your ImpactShare the Save Our Happy Place Newsletter with a friend. Support Save Our Happy PlaceIf you enjoy making waves against climate change with us, please consider supporting our efforts by donating through Patreon. Volunteer with UsIf you would like to contribute to Save Our Happy Place or volunteer your time & skill set, please let us know. |
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