In this article, we’ll explain what microplastic is, the harmful effects of microplastic, and how we can mitigate the use of microplastic.

What is Microplastic?

All of the sudden, certain elements and materials are considered as a hard pass in the midst of climate change and the push for greater sustainability – such as people switching to reusable water bottles, shopping bags, and remaining wary of fast fashion to avoid hazardous materials like microplastic. 

Microplastics can have a profound impact on the environment, ocean life, and even the human body – making microplastic a new cause for concern in our world. 

In simple terms, the definition of microplastics are small, microscopic particles smaller than 5 millimeters in diameter – and can easily end up in water filtration systems, oceans, and even our food. 


💡 Microplastics are synthetic compounds that have low-to-no biodegradable properties, making them easy to pass through our food chains – such as in the fish we eat.

To this day, we still don’t know the full effects of microplastic on human health – as microplastic may come in various shapes, sizes, and concentrations. While the best strategy is to limit or avoid the use of microplastic altogether, more research needs to be done in order to effectively fight microplastic toxicity.

“Now we can use it to test more parts of the body, our tissue, our brain. Now we are able to definitely say that they stay in our body,” said researcher Kara Wiggin.

Microplastics and their impact on the human body

There are two main types of microplastics:

Primary Microplastics – This type of microplastic is purposely manufactured in small sizes and used in popular cosmetics such as makeup and skincare. One of the best examples of commonly used microplastics includes microbeads, which are often used in face wash to help exfoliate the skin.

Secondary Microplastics – This type of microplastic is created when larger plastic products break down into smaller fragments, such as a single-use plastic water bottle or thin plastic being left out into the sun for too long. This can also include plastic that is breaking down from wear-and-tear, such as a fish net or a plastic toy. 

Microplastic can come from the following sources:

Clothing – Textile fibers from synthetic clothing which release microplastic after washing, which has caused people to become more aware of the importance of sustainable fashion. 

Tires – Particles released from tires from driving, where up to 78% of microplastics found in the ocean are from synthetic tire rubber.

“Our estimated annual discharge of microplastics into San Francisco Bay from stormwater was 7 trillion particles, and half of that was suspected tire particles.” – Environmental scientist at the San Francisco Estuary Institute, Rebecca Sutton.

Single-Use Plastic – Plastic bags or water bottles which easily breakdown over time, meaning that we could be eating snacks out of an old, single-use plastic bag and accidentally be exposing ourselves to microplastic. 

Cosmetics – Skincare, makeup, or other cosmetic products can contain microbeads which can end up in our bodies or landfill. 

👉 Ultimately, microplastic can be found in many facets of our every day life – demonstrating how microplastic is already intertwined with our daily routines – which makes it all the more difficult to avoid microplastic entirely.

There are several reasons why microplastic is harmful, but it is mostly detrimental to the human body, agriculture, our oceans and bodies of water such as the Great Lakes, and aquatic life – as ingesting microplastic can release endocrine disrupting chemicals.

💡 As microplastic can be found in oceans, on remote islands, and even in polar regions – their damaging effects span the globe, making it all the more imperative to understand the effects of microplastics and eradicate them to the best of our ability.

In addition to this, microplastic also carries other toxic chemicals – which could have an impact on air pollution and increase the amount of harmful pollutants in our atmosphere. This reveals that microplastic can have an impact on our planet and human health, even when we don’t accidentally consume microplastic.

Here’s a breakdown of the different ways in which microplastic can be harmful:

When humans consume microplastic, it can have an impact on their endocrine system – which would in turn have an effect on reproductive systems, incite weight gain, and even cause cancer. 

Furthermore, microplastic doesn’t cause harm when ingested, but it has an impact on our air quality – as microplastics have been shown to contribute to excess greenhouse gas emissions.

💡 In fact, plastics as a whole will emit 1.34 gigatons per year by 2030 and a whopping 2.8 gigatons per year by 2050 – illustrating why our newfound concern regarding the consumption of microplastic is warranted. 

As microplastic has a way of ending up anywhere, it can even find its way into soil – where microplastic can change the structure of the soil such as its porosity. 

This means that the health of various soil organisms may be compromised and contaminated – overall making it more difficult to warrant a fruitful, quality harvest of produce.

👉 In order to combat the negative effects of microplastic in soil from fertilisers or irrigation with polluted water resources, some farmers have adapted climate smart farming tactics to avoid the potential impacts of microplastic.

Microplastic can easily contaminate oceans, as 12 million tons of plastic finds its way into the ocean every year – meaning that marine animals often mistake microplastic for food, which can ultimately disrupt food chains and marine ecosystems. 


Since microplastic absorbs heavy metals and pesticides once oceanborne – it can act as a toxic carrier – ending up on oceanshores and creating a profound impact on surrounding biodiversity. This is because microplastic can interfere with both plankton and the natural carbon cycle, which are essential for oceanic health.

 “Microplastics truly are omnipresent in these environments… they are affecting marine biota at every trophic scale.” – CEO of the Center for International Environmental Law, Carroll Muffett.

👉As the production of primary and secondary microplastic continues to increase, it is becoming increasingly difficult to mitigate the harmful effects of microplastic for oceanic habitats.  

Since aquatic wildlife often mistakes microplastics for food, it not only disrupts the food chain – but can cause severe harm and even death to marine life.

For example, whenever fish, turtles, or birds such as seagulls eat microplastic, it can block their digestive tracks and reduce their appetite – leading to accidental starvation and malnourishment.  

Besides digestive issues, microplastic is also linked to behavioral and reproductive problems for aquatic life – meaning that they could accidentally pass on these issues to their offspring and create long-standing, challenging-to-reserve problems for their species as a whole.

These pervasive effects highlight the urgent need for reducing plastic waste and improving waste management systems.

👉 Overall, microplastic has a colossal impact on our health, the environment, and aquatic life – highlighting the need for improved efforts to encourage mitigating microplastic.

The table below will delve into the additional ways that microplastics are harmful:

<table border="1">
    <thead>
        <tr>
            <th>Negative Effect</th>
            <th>Description</th>
        </tr>
    </thead>
    <tbody>
        <tr>
            <td>Stifles Innovation in Sustainable Products</td>
            <td>
                Microplastics create challenges for businesses aiming to innovate in the sustainability space. For instance, new biodegradable materials or eco-friendly products may face increased scrutiny to ensure they do not unintentionally contribute to microplastic pollution during degradation, delaying their development and adoption.
            </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Prevents True Circular Economies</td>
            <td>
                Microplastics complicate recycling processes, as they contaminate recycled materials, making it difficult to create high-quality, reusable products. This undermines efforts to achieve a fully circular economy by reducing the value and usability of recycled goods.
            </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Hampers National Sustainability Goals</td>
            <td>
                Many countries striving to meet sustainability goals find it difficult to track and manage microplastic pollution. This invisible pollutant undermines clean water and air initiatives, making it harder for nations to present themselves as truly sustainable.
            </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Discourages Investment in Clean Technologies</td>
            <td>
                Microplastic pollution requires costly research and mitigation efforts, diverting resources away from investments in clean energy or alternative materials. The ongoing issue also increases investor hesitation, fearing that new technologies could exacerbate pollution problems rather than solve them.
            </td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td>Complicates International Trade Policies</td>
            <td>
                The presence of microplastics in goods like textiles or cosmetics leads to stricter trade regulations. Countries may impose bans or additional certifications, increasing the complexity and cost of exporting sustainable products.
            </td>
        </tr>
    </tbody>
</table>


If humans eat microplastic, it can cause toxic substances to enter our bodies – which in turn can result in gastrointestinal issues, damage to our DNA, and increase the risk of cancer.


💡 Despite the fact that we still remain unaware of the full effects of microplastic on the human body, new research indicates that consuming microplastic can cause oxidative damage – which can change our cell structure and impact our reproductive systems.

“There are so many unknowns… but we are seeing more data that suggest microplastics affect human biology.” – Environmental Professor at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Bernardo Lemos.

👉 It can be challenging to avoid consuming microplastic, seeing as humans ingest roughly 2,000 microplastics per year from salt alone – provoking people to wonder if they can remove the microplastics they have since consumed.

Can you get rid of microplastics in your body?

There is currently no surefire way to remove microplastic from the human body, and since it is difficult to test for levels of microplastic – as only 5 to 10% of blood concentration of microplastic is the true value of tissue levels. Therefore, it can be challenging to determine how much microplastic toxicity one has suffered.

Luckily, we can limit the amount of microplastic we consume by changing our eating and lifestyle habits.

Here are some ways you can reduce the amount of microplastic in your body:

Donating Blood or Plasma – New research reveals that regularly donating blood or plasma may help to reduce the levels of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in your bloodstream.

Eating Healthier – Shopping at your local farmers market and avoiding single-use plastic packaging with food could help to reduce the consumption of microplastic. 

Reduce Your Plastic Consumption – This means switching to glass containers, reusable water bottles, and opting to purchase items that make use of sustainable packaging. 

Boil Tap Water – The American Chemical Society shared a report explaining that boiling calcium-rich tap water could help to remove up to 90% of microplastics in tap water.  


👉 Accidentally inhaling or ingesting too much microplastic can cause the body to trigger an immune response, which can result in chronic pain or even particle toxicity – making it important to mitigating microplastic altogether.

How can we reduce and avoid the harmful effects of microplastic? 

There are several ways we can reduce the detrimental effects of microplastic, such as by increasing legislation to ban microplastic in products and by increasing funding for research to better understand how microplastic affects the human body.

💡 Microplastics will continue to spread toxicity amongst our wildlife, our environment, and even our own bodies – meaning it’s important to develop new mechanisms to avoid their destructive impact. 

Here are some ways to avoid the harmful effects of microplastic:

Increased Legislation on Microplastic – As the Netherlands was the first country to ban microbeads in 2014, many countries have since followed in their footsteps – such as Canada, Italy, Korea, New Zealand, and Australia. If more countries were to join in on banning microbreads, we could help to avoid both primary and secondary microplastic from accidentally being ingested or inhaled. 

New Research – One of the biggest concerns with microplastic is that we still don’t fully understand to what lengths it can have an impact on the environment, our ecosystems, and even our own bodies. If we were to increase funding for research for microplastic, we could possibly develop new, more efficient ways of avoiding their harmful effects.

Encourage the Use of Biodegradables – As a global society, we still use more plastic than we should – but if we encouraged the use of more sustainable materials such as biodegradable packing materials, we could reduce the demand for single-use plastics and therefore significantly cut back on the production of primary microplastic. 

Overall, microplastic is a serious issue that needs to be addressed in the midst of our fight against climate change – as if we continue to let microplastics run rampant, it could further contribute to our own downfall.

If reading this article on microplastic has made you interested in reducing your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!

It can be overwhelming to figure out how to effectively reduce emissions in your business, but don’t worry – Greenly is here to help. Click here to schedule a demo to see how Greenly can help you find ways to ensure your company is reducing emissions as effectively as possible.

Greenly can help you make an environmental change for the better, starting with a carbon footprint assessment to know how much carbon emissions your company produces.

In this article, we’ll explain what “going green” means, the benefits, why it can prove difficult, what it means for businesses, and how you or your company can start going green.

What Does “Going Green” Mean?

In today’s world, almost everyone is aware that going green could play a vital part in helping to reduce climate emissions and transition to a more sustainable global lifestyle overall – but what does going green entail?

Going green is a term used to describe people making a genuine effort to reduce their environmental impact and encourage others around them to do the same, but the nature of our society often makes it difficult for those trying to go green.

What does the term “going green” mean?

The term “going green” refers to the effort for an individual or business to become more aware of their surroundings, how their actions impact the environment, and working to adjust those actions accordingly. 

Going green is usually a decision made over time for most people, as it is difficult to alter all of your daily habits overnight to accommodate more sustainable practices.

Going green does not need to be a sacrifice, either for us as individuals or for businesses, governments and the economy.


This is the second episode of Climate Lab, a six-part series produced by the University of California in partnership with Vox. Hosted by Emmy-nominated conservation scientist Dr. M. Sanjayan, the videos explore the surprising elements of our lives that contribute to climate change and the groundbreaking work being done to fight back. Featuring conversations with experts, scientists, thought leaders and activists, the series takes what can seem like an overwhelming problem and breaks it down into manageable parts: from clean energy to food waste, religion to smartphones.  View the first episode at    • Why humans are so bad at thinking abo...    and check back next Wednesday for the next episode. Visit http://climate.universityofcalifornia... for more.

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Going green shouldn't be this hard

💡Going green is often a slow, gradual process – but the good news is that many small actions can be considered a part of going green and can help to make a difference in protecting our planet and mitigating climate change.

Taking public transportation instead of driving

Using a reusable water bottle or shopping bag

Trying meatless mondays and eating more plant-based meals

Opting for sustainable packaging of your company’s products

Choosing energy efficient appliances in your home

👉 Generally, any change in behavior made in attempts to reduce the amount of waste or pollution created on you or your company’s behalf can be considered an effort to go green.

There are numerous benefits to going green for both individuals and businesses, such as helping to reduce your carbon footprint, cutting down on waste generation, and even reducing personal or business expenses.

Going green is beneficial for the planet, but it can also help to improve the quality of your own life or open up doors for new business opportunities.

Here are some of the benefits of going green:

Reduce Pollution – Going green often means making an effort to avoid taking high polluting means of transportation or engaging in activities that pollute the environment. This could include refraining from taking a road trip with a gasoline powered car until you’ve purchased an electric vehicle. Therefore, going green can have a direct impact on the amount of ozone-depleting substances, greenhouse gasses, and carbon emissions in the air – and help to reduce our air pollution and improve air quality. 

Cut Back on Waste – One of the most convenient ways for someone to start going green is for them to avoid purchasing single use plastic or using plastic on their own behalf. This means that going green can help to promote the importance of recycling and reduce the amount of unnecessary waste that usually ends up in landfills.  

Conserve Natural Resources – People who subscribe to the notion of going green will often make an effort to shut of lights when not in the room, take shorter showers, and implement the use of renewable energy or energy efficient appliances wherever possible. All of these ventures will help to conserve vital and sparse resources such as water, and also mitigate the use of more harmful resources such as fossil fuels.

Protect Vital Wildlife & Ecosystems – Going green doesn’t only help to improve the quality of your own life, but for wildlife as well! This is because many of the protocols associated with going green can help to preserve our valuable ecosystems and the species that live there – such as working to prevent deforestation by avoiding the consumption of products from brands that contribute to destroying forest and agricultural lands. 

Save Money – Although going green may seem like an expensive effort at first, but over time – going green can help you to reduce your monthly living expenses. This can include no longer needing to fill up your car with gas as a result of using public transportation, not needing to purchase plastic water bottles since you now use a reusable water bottle, or paying less for your monthly utility bill as you’ve switched to more energy efficient appliances. 

Improve Your Health – Going green often means making an effort to change your daily lifestyle, which includes the meals you eat. Many people may choose to start eating less meat and switch their usual go-to meals for more vegetarian and vegan friendly options – many of which will incorporate the use of fresh fruits and vegetables, which are good for your health.

👉 Even though going green may seem overwhelming and challenging at first, the long-term benefits of going green often outweigh the difficulties required to curate a more sustainable life in the first place.

Going green may seem like an achievable venture on the surface, but the reality is that society makes it exceptionally difficult for any effort in-line with “going green” to prove exceptionally effective – especially as many industries continue to use for things such as single use packaging or excessive consumption. 

Although going green can and should still be practiced amongst the majority of people, many cultures make it difficult for people to practice the values associated with going green – such as the constant societal pressure to update your technology or take a luxurious trip.

Here are a few reasons why going green may not be as easy as it appears:

Consumerism Culture – Several industries still pride themselves on the ability to sell more. A prime example of this is the current set up of the music industry, where famous singer Billie Elish recently discussed her aggravation with the need for several artists to sell multiple variations of the same vinyl record. This is because several artists seek to produce more hard copies of their records with various exclusive tracks in order to boost their positions on the billboard charts, but as a result – this makes it difficult for music fans to practice “going green”.

Peer Pressure – Even the toughest people eventually fall subject to peer pressure, such as feeling the need to update their phones or travel – both of which can contribute to excess emissions and waste generation. However, even if there isn’t any societal pressure to update your phone or take an unnecessary short-haul flight – some apps may not work if you don’t update your phone, and some places are difficult to travel to without flying. Therefore, much of the world is still set-up to make “going green” less impactful than it could be. 

Extra Time & Money – Opting to take the metro instead of driving your car means you need to allot for a longer commuting time. In a similar sense, choosing to switch to the use of a reusable water bottle or washable produce bags means needing to invest in all of those materials upfront. Many people cannot afford the luxury of the time or money often needed for “going green”.

👉As a result, going green is often more difficult than it may seem due to the fact much of the world is not built to accommodate the actions or efforts associated with going green – as people will need to allocate additional time, money, and effort to effectively practice going green.

What does going green mean for businesses?

Businesses that choose to subscribe to the effort of going green are bound to experience several competitive advantages: such as newfound stakeholder interest, attracting new customers, and boosting brand image. 

It is slowly, and indirectly, becoming compulsory for businesses to “go green” – as new climate legislation and environmental regulations are requiring companies to be more upfront about the environmental impact and annual emissions.

As a result of the newfound desire for customers, stakeholders, investors, and governments wanting businesses to be more transparent about how their business actions impact the environment – going green can help companies stay one-step-ahead of these trending expectations. 

Additional benefits for businesses that commit to going green include:

Improved Brand Reputation – Especially amongst Gen Z, a business working on going green is more likely to catch the attention of new consumers!

Reduced Operational Costs – Going green often means your business will seek to use renewable energy or energy efficient appliances, which in turn – means mitigating superfluous energy usage and lowering your company’s utility bills. 

Comply with Environmental Regulations – New environmental regulations are coming in a full-speed, making it overwhelming for companies to comply – but going green can help your company ensure it adheres to all current and future eoc-friendly protocols. 

Increased Consumer & Stakeholder Interest – Many customers and stakeholders alike will be more likely to financially contribute to a company going green. This ultimately gives your company a competitive advantage.

Attract New Talent to Your Business – Up to 70% of people prefer to work for sustainable companies, meaning that going green could help to grow your business and attract new employees.

New Financial Opportunities – Going green isn’t just good for the planet, but your company’s finances – as governments, organizations, and investors alike will often be open to providing financial aid or other grants to businesses making a tangible effort to go green.

👉 Overall, going green isn’t just about getting rid of a guilt conscious at your company – but it can help your business to be more successful.

How can you or your company start going green?

There are lots of ways that your company can start going green, such as by offering reusable cups and utensils in the office, implementing energy efficient appliances at home or in the office, and setting up recycling bins.

Going green may seem overwhelming to many, and that’s why it’s best to start small and work your way up to bigger sustainable goals.

You or your company can start going green in your home or at the office by:

Supporting local sustainable and environmental causes

At the end of the day, “going green” may be hard to define by many – but it simply means making an effort to reduce your environmental impact in any way you can. 

Luckily, there are many ways to practice “going green” – and if your company is stuck on where to start, Greenly can help!

If reading this article about what it means to go green has made you interested in decarbonising your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!

At Greenly we can help you to assess your company’s carbon footprint, and then give you the tools you need to cut down on emissions. We offer a free demo for you to better understand our platform and all that it has to offer – including assistance with boosting supplier engagement, personalised assistance, and new ways to involve your employees.

Click here to learn more about Greenly and how we can help you reduce your carbon footprint.

In this article, we’ll explain how forests and climate change are related, how deforestation affects climate change, and the future of forests and climate change.

Forests and Climate Change: How Are They Related?

You’ve probably heard that planting trees is one of the best ways to mitigate the effects of global warming, but how are forests and climate change interconnected? 

Unbeknownst to most people, forests and climate change are directly related to one another – as trees can help to absorb excess carbon dioxide emissions, and climate change has a negative impact on the livelihood of forests and their subsequent ecosystems and surrounding wildlife. 

How are forests and climate change related?

Forests and climate change are related as forests can help to reduce the rate of climate change by absorbing excess carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere, and climate change threatens the vitality of our forests, their ecosystems, and surrounding wildlife. 

Climate change is a direct result of too much carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, and forests can help to lessen that negative impact – but climate change threatens the future of forests, themselves.

Giant trees that have stood for decades or even centuries are an elixir of life on our planet. They help purify the air, preserve biodiversity and are key to slowing down climate change. But the number of these age-old giants is dwindling fast. 

Deforestation, drought, and pests pose a huge threat to old-growth trees and destroy their ecosystems. But unconventional ideas on how to raise awareness and increase our understanding of the role these trees play, as well as rethinking how we use our forests, can all help to protect them. 

"Big trees are the most important bar of gold on the planet”, says US biologist Meg Lowman. She was the first scientist to begin studying forest canopies in the 1970s with the help of self-built hoists. Now aged 70, she’s pursuing the ambitious goal of safeguarding the future of ten of the world’s most biodiverse forests, by building walkways high up in the forest canopy for both ecotourists and scientists. The walkways are maintained by local residents, who also work as tour guides and provide catering and accommodation for the visitors. We accompany Meg Lowman and a group of ecotourists on an expedition to the Peruvian Amazon. 

In Germany, most forests are not natural - and none are primeval as defined in the classic sense. But the "woodify” startup is looking to change that, by ensuring that large areas of woodland are left to grow wild. The company's goal is to withdraw 50% of Germany’s forests from commercial use.
The start-up works by leasing areas of forest and signing a contract that no trees will be felled there for 30 years. Any trees that fall to the ground naturally are left to rot, meaning: no human intervention whatsoever. This eventually leads to a more natural forest that stores CO2. Woodify issues certificates for the additional amount of CO2 sequestered and sells them to companies.

The scientifically substantiated model relies on calculations carried out by the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development. At a time when large areas of commercial forest with monocultures are dying off, the model is becoming increasingly attractive. If the idea works, says founder Anselm Schneider, it will result in the generation of a lot of natural woodland.


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How old-growth forests protect our climate | DW Documentary

Forests are an important part of our planet and our efforts to reduce the negative effects of climate change, such as by helping to absorb rainwater, avoid the worst effects of flooding, preserving soil and water quality, and more. 

Here are a few more reasons why forests and climate change are related:

Forests can help to remove toxic pollutants that are currently airborne as a result of climate change, meaning that forests and climate change are interconnected in terms of air pollution;

Forests can prevent the need for excessive air conditioning, as healthy forests can help to regulate high temperatures in dense, urban areas – such as New York City or Tokyo.

Forests serve as a home to thousands of species, and no matter how small these organisms are – all of them play a role in helping to support biodiversity, and therefore – working to prevent climate change. 

Forests provide many resources we use in our daily lives – such as wood for furniture, drinking water, food, fuel, and even bio-products. Therefore, as we continue to pollute the planet at an unprecedented rate – we continue to put some of our most valuable resources at stake, as forests are directly impacted by climate change.

👉 Overall, forests and climate change are interconnected seeing as forests help to mitigate climate change – but rising global temperatures can impact the quality of resources provided by forests, which in turn makes it more difficult for forests to help offset climate change.

How does deforestation affect climate change?

Deforestation affects climate change because when trees are cut down, more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. This means destroying forests isn’t only bad for the wildlife living there or for society – but for climate change, too.

Unbeknownst to most people, trees don’t just absorb excess carbon dioxide from their leaves – but also store carbon dioxide in their roots and trunks. This means that every time a tree is cut, we continue to contribute to climate change – with forest loss accounting for about 10% of global warming.

Here are a few more reasons why deforestation can elicit a negative effect on climate change:

Forests Can Help Lessen the Impact of Natural Disasters – Forests can have a direct influence on rainfall patterns, which ultimately means that forests can help to prevent flooding.

Destroying Forests Indirectly Support High-Emitting Industries – Many forests are destroyed as a result of setting up farms for meat, soy, and palm oil – which means that climate change is not only spurred by cutting down these trees to develop these agricultural sites, but supports high-emitting industries such as the meat and palm oil industries.

Compromised Biodiversity – Forests are home to millions of various plants, animals, and microorganisms – all of which can help protect forests and provide mankind with valuable resources. However, deforestation often destroys the homes these species dwell in – putting a halt to imperative processes in nature such as pollination and seed dispersal. When these natural processes can no longer be carried out, it can result in pests – which affects agriculture.

Indirect Cause of Urbanization – The more densely populated cities are, the more cause for concern they become in regards to climate change – and deforestation continues to aggravate this very issue, as many indigenous people are forced to flee their native land following deforestation.

Cause for Concern with Carbon Sequestration – Most people are unaware that large forests and climate change are related, seeing as trees act as carbon sinks – which absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, when trees are cut – the carbon dioxide they have been storing is released back into their air – which accentuates the current negative impacts associated with climate change. 

💡 Did you know that the Amazon rain forest in Brazil is almost the size of the United States? Knowing this, it’s easy to understand how devastating it is that 20% of the Amazon rain forest has been lost as a result of deforestation – and the negative impacts that have ensued as a result.

How does climate change affect forests?Why is it difficult to go green?

Climate change has a direct impact on forests since rising temperatures, reduced air quality, droughts, and more impact the sustenance of wildlife and biodiversity in forests – all of which impacts society as a whole. 

Think of a massive life-event that either recently happened to you or was necessary to prepare prior to it happening – evidently, it was likely that your life had to be changed in order to accommodate the new circumstances. Forests are thinking the same way when it comes to climate change, as several tree species have started migrating north to avoid extreme warm or dry temperatures.

Climate change is subjecting our planet to unsustainable pressures. Forests and trees trap and store carbon as they grow – standing at the frontline against climate change.

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Forests and Climate Change

Climate change has a profound effect on forests, such as by:

Forest Migration – Climate change is, and will continue, to make several regions of the world inhabitable for tree species – to the extent that many types of trees will migrate north to avoid excessively warm and drier climates. 

Wildfires – People aren’t the only ones to have lost their homes as a result of wildfires – but plants and animals, too. Wildfires continue to put forests in harm's way, and the saddest part is – we as a species are continuing to create perfect conditions for future wildfires to occur. This is devastating to imagine, as several places across the world have been impacted by wildfires – and the worst is still yet to come. 

Droughts – Almost everyone knows that trees need sunlight and water to thrive, but what most people don’t realise is that dehydrated trees aren’t as able to absorb carbon dioxide through their stomata. Droughts are becoming prominent across the globe, such as with the Colorado River drying up and the current drought in Spain.

Increased Pests – Many people are unaware of the fact that pests, such as mosquitoes, are only going to grow more prominent and plentiful in the midst of climate change. These pests can have an impact on the species and wildlife living in forests. 

👉 Climate change will continue to impact the health and prosperity of forests, which in turn – will prove unhelpful in the global fight to reduce emissions and the miscellaneous negative effects of skyrocketing temperatures.

What would happen with forests and climate change if we planted more trees?

If we made a bigger effort to preserve forests and even start new forests in suitable regions of the world, we could create a substantial difference in the fight against climate change.

Forests and climate change are profoundly interconnected, to the extent that forests will play a pivotal role in helping us to reduce the amount of exacerbated emissions worldwide – which ironically will be difficult to accomplish if we continue allowing climate change to destroy forests.

Several organizations, such as REDD+ and the UNDP, are working to ensure forests are protected by vouching for reforestation projects and mitigating future deforestation – but what are some of the challenges of working to ensure the relationship between forests and climate change remains beneficial for all?

Here are some of the challenges of working to plant more trees and preserve forests and climate change:

Inconsistent Climate Conditions  – Droughts, wildfires, and floods can make it challenging to plant new trees – as soil growth and migrating species could impact the vitality of those trees and eventual forests later on down the road.

Limited Financial Resources – Reforestation projects are costly and difficult to find funding for, which makes it challenging to pontificate the importance between forests and climate change – let alone to rectify the existing issues forests and climate change have created for one another.

Conflict Over Land Usage – Businesses and entire countries alike will often fight for land in the event it proves suitable for agriculture or infrastructure development – which can make it difficult to secure land that would be better put to use as a future forest. Therefore, one of the biggest challenges to planting more trees and ensuring a positive relationship between forests and climate change is the difficulty to make effective, collaborative decisions between various parties. 

Need for Consistent Monitoring & Management – Planting trees in hopes of starting a new forest is no easy task. Think of new trees as babies or puppies: they require utmost attention and care to ensure they grow up to be healthy and functional adults, or in this case – viable trees a part of a forest. This requires exceptional data collection and effort to manage and monitor growing forests, both of which not all organizations have the time or ability to do.

No Support From Locals – Even though most people are ambivalent to planting more trees, having support would help to propel future reforestation projects. This would encourage individuals, governments, and business alike to allocate more resources to planting trees and promoting a beneficial relationship between forests and climate change. 

💡 It would be beneficial to plant more trees and preserve existing forests, but climate change is making it difficult to fund these pivotal reforestation projects.

How can we prevent forests and climate change from suffering as we move forward?

Forests and climate change will both continue to get worse as the negative effects of global warming prevail, but we can all make an effort to support reforestation, preserve existing forests, and fight against climate change. 

Some of the ways forest fires and climate change will continue to hinder one another suffuse into business prospects, too. This is because businesses looking to start new industrial processes through deforestation will continue to decrease the amount of available carbon sinks in our natural environment. 

Luckily, we can all make an effort to reduce the impact of both forests and climate change – and build a healthier, interconnected relationship between the two.

Here are some ways we can prevent forests and climate change from getting worse moving forward:

Purchasing carbon credits or carbon offsets to plant new trees

Ensuring your company is up-to-date on current environmental regulations 

Refraining from purchasing cosmetics, clothes, or other products which harm forests

Create a sustainable strategy for your business to effectively reduce scope emissions

Remember – forests and climate change are currently having a negative effect on one another, but it doesn’t have to be that way! If forests are properly protected, it can help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions in our atmosphere and mitigate climate change – and if we fight against climate change, our forests have a better chance of helping us in this global battle.

The relationship between forests and climate change doesn’t have to be toxic, but it does need your help if it’s ever going to change. 

If reading this article on forests and climate change and how they’re interrelated has made you interested in reducing your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!

In this article, we’ll review why stakeholders are important, how they could impact your company’s sustainability efforts, and how to prevent them from doing so.

Preventing Stakeholders From Ruining Your Sustainability Efforts

Over the past year, from devastating wildfires in Hawaii to and massive floods in Russia, people have started to see the negative impact of climate change firsthand like never before – which has elicited people to start shifting gears and become more serious about climate change.

Stakeholders are an essential part of any business, but how can your company ensure that your stakeholders don’t get in the way of your sustainability efforts?

In this article, we’ll review why stakeholders are important, how stakeholders could impact your company’s sustainability efforts, and how to prevent your stakeholders from ruining your sustainability plans.

What are stakeholders and why are they important?

Stakeholders refer to the people who are either involved or impacted by a company’s current business endeavors, ergo the term “stakeholders” to represent people who have “stake”, or some type of involvement or relation to the project in question.

Think of planning a road trip with your friends – the car company you choose to rent from and friends you choose to travel with would all be considered stakeholders in your roadtrip. The same goes for businesses, as anyone from surrounding communities to research institutions associated with your product or service could be considered stakeholders.

What is a stakeholder and stakeholder theory? This video looks at the definition, primary and secondary stakeholders, and suggests practical uses for leaders. The video contrasts stakeholders vs shareholders or stockholders and looks the role stakeholders play in the overall success of an organization, 
 
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What is a Stakeholder?

Stakeholders are important because they can have a direct influence on a project. For instance, if investors aren’t happy with the product or service – they won’t continue to invest more money into the company. If locals aren’t happy with how production for your company’s product impacts their daily lives, such as contributing to nearby air pollution, they could boycott the company altogether. 

👉 Therefore, it’s imperative to keep your stakeholders both informed and engaged regarding your current company activities – as stakeholders have the power to deter your business plans and even sustainable efforts from being successful.

Why is stakeholder engagement important for sustainability?

Stakeholder engagement is important for sustainability as stakeholders are paramount to ensure that new corporate sustainability initiatives are well implemented. Therefore, seeking to involve your stakeholders can help to make certain that all sustainability efforts are understood by all third parties.

Think of trying to incorporate a new routine within a group. It is important for not only the group leaders to understand the new initiatives, but for all of the members of the group to comprehend and want to implement those changes as well. The same goes for essential stakeholders in your organization.

Here are a few more reasons why stakeholder engagement is important to develop your company’s sustainability strategy:

Identify Key Issues – Engaging with stakeholders is crucial to ensure your company remains up-to-date regarding ESG issues and how to develop your sustainability efforts accordingly. 

Practice Greater Trust & Transparency – Informing your stakeholders on the importance of adhering to sustainable efforts can help to cultivate trust and illustrate a genuine commitment to enforcing eco-friendly change. 

Incite New Collaboration – Seeking to include your stakeholders in your sustainable efforts could ignite the opportunity for new ideas, and ultimately lead to further sustainable innovations to be implemented in the future. Remember, your stakeholders may be able to come up with new sustainable practices your company would’ve never considered alone!

Improve Brand Image & Reputation – Working to engage your stakeholders can help to build a better brand reputation for future customers, investors, and even future stakeholders – all of which can help both your financial and sustainable endeavors to grow.

👉 Overall, stakeholder engagement is important for sustainability given the outside expertise and new ideas that your stakeholders could provide to your business – helping to further push your sustainable initiatives.

How could stakeholders impact your sustainability efforts?

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