Climate Change Infographic

The following climate change infographic demonstrates how deforestation is a key driver of climate change.¹ 

Deforestation is responsible for about 10 per cent of all global emissions.² Trees absorb and store carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere as they grow.³ They can sequester this greenhouse gas for centuries.⁴ By removing it from the atmosphere, they prevent it from trapping heat against the Earth and causing global warming.⁵ When they are cut down, burned or left to rot, trees release their stored carbon.⁶ Deforestation therefore directly adds to the CO2 in the atmosphere.

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We can halt, and even reverse, deforestation.⁷ Reforestation refers to the replanting of areas to replenish forest cover.⁸ New trees have the potential to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and offset manmade emissions.⁹ However, it can take decades for saplings to absorb the same levels of CO2 as old forest, and it is therefore vital that we protect existing forests now.¹⁰ 

1. Farquhar, E. (2020). Deforestation Carbon Emissions: What’s the link? [online] Iowa Tree Planting. Available at: https://iowatreeplanting.com/deforestation-carbon-emissions/ [Accessed 8 Feb. 2021].
2. Union of Concerned Scientists. (2016). What’s Driving Deforestation? [online] Available at: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/whats-driving-deforestation.
3. Nunez, C. (2019). Deforestation and Its Effect on the Planet. [online] Nationalgeographic.com. Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation/.
4. mossy.earth. (n.d.). Carbon Sequestration Methodology. [online] Available at: https://www.mossy.earth/methodologies/carbon-sequestration-methodology.
5. Nunez, C. (2019). Deforestation and Its Effect on the Planet. [online] Nationalgeographic.com. Available at: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation/.
6. Media, W.S. (n.d.). Climate Change – Deforestation. [online] Climate and Weather. Available at: https://www.climateandweather.net/global-warming/deforestation/.
7. Earth Innovation Institute. (2019). Reforestation can help reverse the climate and extinction crises. It’s cost-effective too. – Earth Innovation Institute. [online] Available at: https://earthinnovation.org/2019/05/reforestation-can-help-reverse-the-climate-and-extinction-crises/.
8. Merriam-webster.com. (2019). Definition of REFORESTATION. [online] Available at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reforestation.
9. Sciencedirect.com. (2013). Afforestation – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. [online] Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/afforestation.
10. Earth Innovation Institute. (2019). Reforestation can help reverse the climate and extinction crises. It’s cost-effective too. – Earth Innovation Institute. [online] Available at: https://earthinnovation.org/2019/05/reforestation-can-help-reverse-the-climate-and-extinction-crises/.