Lifestyle
Grow Some Trees
What
Growing a tree will reduce your carbon pollution and is good for air quality and wildlife.
Why
A mature tree captures and stores about 22 kilograms of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, each year – so, each tree you plant adds up to make an impact. In fact, many experts agree it’s the most effective way to capture carbon.
There are many other benefits, too. Trees provide much needed habitat for wildlife. They retain water, so can help to reduce flooding and wildfires. Trees offer shade and can significantly cool urban areas. They also improve air quality; there is a link between increasing green space and increased life expectancy.
Extreme E is working with The Nature Conservancy & over 50 Brazilian smallholders to support cocoa farming and the restoration of native forests.
How
The most effective way to grow trees is to keep existing forests thriving. You can help to reduce deforestation by avoiding unsustainable palm oil and taking steps like Eat more plants. Wherever you are in the world, always think twice before chopping a living tree down.
But, we also need to plant more trees...
If you have space to plant a tree
Research the best trees for your location and get planting!
If you live in an urban area
Ask your local council or government authority if it’s possible to plant trees in your community and how best to help them do this.
If you want to have the biggest impact
Look for opportunities online to join or volunteer for a tree-planting organisation, you could even spend a day or a week helping to plant a diverse forest.
Help grow Alba’s Forest
Join Alba in her mission to plant 1 million trees, and help protect the world's wildlife and natural habitats! For every copy of the game ‘Alba: A Wildlife Adventure’ that is downloaded or sold, one tree will be planted in Alba’s Forest. Help Alba's Forest to grow even bigger.
References
A mature tree captures and stores about 22 kilograms of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, each year
European Environment Agency
Impact metric calculations:
Measuring the rate of carbon capture by trees is complex, it depends on the type of tree, it’s age, and location - as well as other things. To reach our estimate, we used data from Cook Patton et al (2020) "Carbon from natural forest regrowth", showing that on average a hectare of trees sequesters 11.36 tonnes CO2 per year. We assumed an average density of 700 trees per hectare.
While the biggest impact most people can have related to growing more trees is through supporting a tree or forestry project, it’s impossible to estimate potential carbon savings of doing this - which is why the carbon savings shown for that option are 0 kgCO2.