HomeThe HighlightYes, you can fight climate change in your own backyard

Yes, you can fight climate change in your own backyard

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December 9, 2024

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Image: A woman fanning herself looking out her apartment window Text: Often, it feels like climate change is out of my hands. I try to do my part, but it's hard to feel like small efforts have any real impact. When I discovered the concept of rewilding, I was hopeful that some simple actions could have a real benefit on my local ecosystem. Image: New York skyline at sunset. Text: Small steps at a community level can help curb global warming driven by fossil fuel emissions, according to the world's leading climate scientists. The collective global impact of protecting individuals where they live can be quite significant. Image: A landscape with native grasses. Text: The definition of rewilding is quite broad, and can mean different things in different contexts. But the simplest meaning is to land more Image: A butterfly, moth and bird fly around the tree. Text: A revitalization effort like planting native plants can do many great things. This can preserve biodiversity and help balance local ecosystems as these plants help attract butterflies, birds and pollinators such as bees, moths and bats. Photo: A pair of rainbooted feet step into a grassy pond. Text: It can conserve water, since native plants require much less than ornamental grasses, and native plant lands can absorb rainwater and runoff more efficiently than invasive plant lands… Image: A rainbow appears among green trees. Text: And it can slow climate change by allowing more plants to remove carbon from the atmosphere. Photo: Tree. Text: Often, rewilding refers to efforts by conservation groups or land agencies on large tracts of land, and you should do your research before applying it to your own yard — big or small. Some experts believe that it is better to limit further human intervention, and that individuals may do more harm than good if they do not follow best practices. Image: A woman puts seeds in a planter to escape a city fire. Text: I learned that it's pretty easy to make an effort from my New York City apartment. Even without a yard, city dwellers can plant native flowers and grasses in pots on rooftops or front stoops to protect against fire, encouraging birds and pollinators to visit. Image: A woman holds a pumpkin, while carrots are held around her. Text: You can join a community garden and get involved in local efforts to protect and nurture plants that grow naturally in your area. You can also get a veggie or two out of it. Image: Rainwater falls into a bucket. Text: If local regulations allow, collecting rainwater for your plants can save water and be healthier for them than the tap. Image: Bees fly around flowers. Text: And even if you have a grassy lawn you don't want to let the whole thing go wild, you can designate a portion of it for landscaping, which can still make a difference. Image: Cherry blossoms blooming outside an apartment building. Text: Instead of always focusing on massive, systemic contributions to stopping human-caused climate change, we can look at the ecosystems around us and figure out how to support them. Collective rewards can be memorable.

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