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With Ecologi, you can support a wide range of forest restoration projects across the globe, which are operated by our wonderful forest restoration partners.
We thought we’d take some time to celebrate our supported reforestation projects and partners, and the incredible milestones we are achieving together through collective action.
To stay up to date with all of our supported projects, why not follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/Ecologi_hq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://instagram.com/ecologi_hq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EcologiHQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecologihq/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LinkedIn</a>.

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<a href="https://thefutureforestcompany.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Future Forest Company</a> (FFC) restores degraded land through reforestation, natural regeneration, and regenerative agriculture practices. A key component of this approach is planting lots of native trees on land where trees were once removed to make way for farming.
Ecologi currently supports a handful of the sites managed by FFC: Brodoclea, Brisbane Mains, and Glenaros on the Isle of Mull.
As well as forest restoration, FFC are conducting research on carbon removal, including biochar and enhanced weathering. Staff working on the Glenaros estate are accelerating their work on the biochar project after receiving an Innovate UK grant. Biochar, a substance similar to charcoal, is created by burning plant matter in the absence of oxygen in a process called pyrolysis. This process removes carbon from the atmosphere, storing it in the biochar where it can be locked away for hundreds of years. Together with enhanced weathering, another carbon removal method, FFC are able to remove ten times the amount of carbon from the atmosphere, per hectare of land, than just tree-planting on its own.

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In Brodoclea, the saplings that were planted in 2020 are all healthy and growing well! These survived the harsh winter, throughout which planting of new trees continued. Wildlife is also happy and healthy on all the sites, with wildflowers in full bloom throughout the summer and 200 woolly pigs warm in their shelters during the winter. Along with the grazing of the sheep and Highland cows on the Glenaros site, these animals <a href="https://www.drawdown.org/solutions/managed-grazing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">are helping to trap more carbon in the soils</a> and encourage greater levels of biodiversity.

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Another reforestation partner we work with in the UK are <a href="https://www.protect.earth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Protect Earth</a>, a charity planting trees on private land in England and Wales. Protect Earth works with landowners who understand the benefits of having more trees on their land, and carry out the reforestation work. Through reforestation, landowners are able to boost biodiversity (including insect populations that help pollinate crops), create windbreaks to protect crops and buildings from strong winds, and reduce flooding to maximise the productivity of the land.
Protect Earth works with volunteers to plant trees, and often the Ecologi team joins the team to get our hands dirty too! Volunteers are always appreciated, so all members of the Ecologi community are encouraged to take a look at <a href="https://www.protect.earth/events" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Protect Earth’s website</a> to find out about volunteering opportunities.

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The Ecologi community has supported tree planting at lots of sites across England and Wales, including <a href="https://www.protect.earth/projects/pantpurlais" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pantpurlais Farm</a> in Wales, <a href="https://www.protect.earth/projects/donkeywell-farm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donkeywell</a> and <a href="https://www.protect.earth/projects/lower-hampen-farm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lower Hampen</a> farms in Gloucestershire, <a href="https://www.protect.earth/projects/dyrham" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dyrham</a> in South Gloucestershire, and <a href="https://www.protect.earth/projects/howard-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Howard Court</a> in North Yorkshire.

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We’ve been working with <a href="https://www.edenprojects.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eden Reforestation Projects</a> (Eden) since the very early days of Ecologi. We’re proud to be an Ecosystem Partner of Eden, and we’ve supported several of their reforestation projects over the last couple of years. To date, they have planted over 830 million trees across 249 project sites!
Eden use an <a href="https://www.edenprojects.org/stories/employ-to-plant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“Employ to Plant&#8221; methodology</a>, which has had great success in their projects <a href="https://www.edenprojects.org/our-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all over the world</a>. Using this methodology, Eden are able to help alleviate extreme poverty by paying local people a fair wage to plant trees and manage the nurseries. This consistent income is vital for families, helping them to afford nutritious food, send children to school, and even start their own businesses to become more economically independent.
Eden has project sites in many different countries, and so far Ecologi has supported projects in Madagascar, Mozambique, Nicaragua, and Kenya. Across these sites, almost 600 people have been employed by Eden, giving them and their families a much-needed consistent source of income with which to improve their lives. Across all their sites, Eden has employed over 11,500 people!
A great benefit of Eden’s projects being community-led is that the local people are interested and involved in the projects, and therefore want to look after the trees they plant. This is a key element of Eden’s projects’ success &#8211; the trees are valued by the local communities, and are therefore safe from threats of deforestation that occurs in other parts of the world.
By planting a mix of native tree species on a huge scale, Eden’s reforestation projects are able to rapidly transform landscapes as well as communities. In Madagascar we’ve already seen some amazing progress as the mangrove trees begin to grow, restoring the mangrove forests that were once there.

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The trees that are planted are also often by Forest Guards, who are employed by Eden, to ensure they grow safely. Creating healthy habitats helps to support local biodiversity. The trees can be a source of shelter and food for a wide range of animals, and native plant species have a chance to recolonise areas where they used to be found, further enriching the biodiversity of the area.

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Over the last 30 years, <a href="https://trees.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trees for the Future</a> have worked with farmers across 9 countries, proving that agroforestry can be a great solution to some of the challenges faced by countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. We currently support their work in the Mount Elgon region of Eastern Uganda.
Trees for the Future have been able to end hunger and poverty in their focus areas by restoring land through tree planting. They use their tried-and-tested &#8216;Forest Garden&#8217; programme to identify farmers working in areas with severely degraded land, and help them to plant and care for their own ‘Forest Gardens’. As a result, farming families gain a stable income, help restore biodiversity and the ecosystem by stabilising the soil, increasing the nutrient content of the soil, and increasing the water content of the soil too. The land becomes much more productive, enabling families to not only feed themselves, but also make bigger profits on their crops, helping them to support themselves financially.
A key component of the success of Forest Gardens is teaching farmers how to farm their land more productively. Many farmers rely on one or two crops for their income before they start working with Trees for the Future. Not only does this benefit the farmers, enabling them to provide their families and communities with a more varied and nutritious diet, but it also benefits local biodiversity.

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Trees for the Future have planted over 225 million trees so far, positively impacting the lives of over 300,000 people. This amazing feat has resulted in a 706% increase in access to nutrition for participants in the Forest Garden programs and their families after three years in the four-year program.
As of 1st November 2021, 391 farmers were involved in the project the Ecologi community is supporting, with 2,898 people indirectly benefiting from the project. Our community will be funding the planting of about 1.6 million trees at this site in Eastern Uganda.

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<a href="https://onetreeplanted.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One Tree Planted</a> (OTP) began their amazing work in 2014 and have now planted over 40 million trees in over 43 countries. Currently, Ecologi’s community supports projects in two of these countries: the USA and Australia. Ecologi subscribers in those countries can choose to add the planting of a local tree to their monthly subscription. Soon, all members of the Ecologi community will be able to fund tree planting in these projects too, through the new Impact Shop!
OTP’s projects are grounded in <a href="https://onetreeplanted.org/pages/why-trees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">six key benefits of planting trees</a> &#8211; cleaner air, better access to clean water, increased biodiversity, providing job opportunities and supporting livelihoods, improving health, and helping to fight climate change.
Working with more than 260 local reforestation partners, OTP engages local communities in the projects. Local people volunteer to help plant the trees &#8211; below are photos from a volunteer planting day in one of the projects in Australia that the Ecologi community supports.

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<a href="https://ecologi.com/plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up</a> to Ecologi today to help fund these amazing projects all around the world.

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Beyond eco-anxiety: How climate change affects your mental health

The climate crisis is arguably the greatest threat to life on our planet. It is a threat that we have met with astonishingly inadequate action. Climate change is a perfect storm &#8211; because it is often invisible and seen as a future problem, our psychological reaction often doesn’t match the urgency of the crisis. 
 
Social scientists have termed climate change a “<a href="https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/wicked-problem/about/What-is-a-wicked-problem" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wicked issue</a>” for its tendency to result in people avoiding concrete action because it appears distant to so many of us, predominantly in nations in the Global North which have been least impacted from the most direct impacts of climate change so far. There is no denying that the climate crisis is a highly complex issue, and this is reflected in the diverse ways in which we must respond to it.
Our physical and psychological reactions to climate change are rooted in our very biological make-up: whenever we perceive a threat we exhibit a fight, flight or freeze response. These reactions developed as a survival mechanism when we still had to face predators, but have persisted because evolution moves at a much slower pace than human civilisations. Someone who is predisposed to a flight response may be a climate denier or refuse to engage with the topic, while a fight response can manifest as activism to the point of burnout. The freeze response to the climate crisis is often termed eco-paralysis, which can lead to a variety of outcomes &#8211; avoidance of the issue, but also depression and despair.
In experiencing climate-related mental health issues, the first step is to recognise that they are a healthy response to the crisis we find ourselves in. The highly dysfunctional systems of racial capitalism, oppression and <a href="https://bricksmagazine.co.uk/2021/08/10/racism-extractivism-and-capitalism/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">extractivism</a> that permeate most aspects of our lives have rendered many of us numb to the reality of human and ecological devastation. We must actively seek to regain our agency as empathetic, ecological beings. The first step towards doing this is acknowledging our very much justified emotions concerning climate change.

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Eco-anxiety can be broadly described as a form of existential dread, which results in often continuous feelings of negativity, stress, or even panic. It can be triggered in a variety of ways and relate to both experienced or observed impacts of climate change, as well as anticipated events. In extreme cases, anxiety can lead to physical illness through over-exposure to stress chemicals. 
Eco-anxiety must be taken seriously. At a climate protest a few years ago, I met someone who had tragically lost their child to suicide after grappling with debilitating eco-anxiety for months. The current state of the world can be all-consuming, and it is important to recognise when professional or even medical support is needed &#8211; with organisations such as <a href="https://www.climatepsychologyalliance.org/support/indsupport" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Climate Psychology Alliance</a> leading the way in addressing climate-related mental health issues.
Eco-anxiety is a global phenomenon affecting many people, including <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3918955" target="_blank" rel="noopener">young people</a>. Accounts of eco-anxiety that we hear about in the UK have predominantly stemmed from the Global North, with a focus on observed rather than experienced events, and anticipated rather than experienced environmental degradation and catastrophe. It is, however, anything but a phenomenon solely of the Global North; anxiety rooted in environmental damage has been experienced in Indigenous and Global South populations for many years, with academics such as Ashlee Cunsolo having established a <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340880861_Indigenous_mental_health_in_a_changing_climate_A_systematic_scoping_review_of_the_global_literature" target="_blank" rel="noopener">global perspective</a> on the topic. For Indigenous populations, both eco-anxiety and climate grief are the result of painfully real, physical losses felt by those at the frontline of climate impacts, which lead to the loss of traditional knowledge and place-based identity. It is essential, therefore, that we make our advocacy around eco-anxiety <a href="https://www.badactivistcollective.com/the-bad-book/eco-anxiety" target="_blank" rel="noopener">intersectional</a>.

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Losing home, one day at a time: Solastalgia

Another phenomenon growing in significance globally is solastalgia &#8211; the distress of seeing our home environment degraded or destroyed, or anticipating further damage. It is a homesickness that is felt without leaving one’s doorstep, an amalgamation of complicated place-based grief and nostalgia. The growing school of Ecopsychology, which recognises the interconnectedness of people and their surrounding ecosystems, is a much-needed criticism of Western psychology’s inability to explain mental health phenomena outside the context of our urban-industrial society. Environmental change affects us, on a very visceral level. The causal relationships between access to nature and mental and physical health are well-established and should not be ignored.
My experience with solastalgia is a very personal one. I grew up in a bleak tower block in a largely undeveloped area, surrounded by wetlands. Those natural habitats were a lifeline for me &#8211; for many hours each day, I would roam the fields, collecting nature memorabilia, identifying species, and playing with my friends. We were economically poor, but as long as we were outside, we were happy. Over the years, more and more of the wetland was drained and built up to create housing for the emerging middle class &#8211; most of them employed in the local chemical industry. My friends and I found ourselves more and more confined to indoor spaces, watching our beloved playing fields being chipped away at, bit by bit. My sister, who is ten years younger, never experienced those wetlands. There are times when I wonder how many generations we have left before natural spaces completely disappear from our childhoods.

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Between loss and acceptance: Climate grief

A lot of my academic work focuses on the relationship between people and nature, and their inextricable interdependence. Climate grief is a stark example of this connection. Similar to the loss of a loved one, people can grieve for the loss of natural habitats, whether they are present in their own lives or not. In my own research on the topic, I interviewed climate activists from around the world experiencing climate grief (also called ecological or environmental grief). The results were surprising. People could be immensely affected by witnessing destruction with their own eyes, but also by watching a news piece on bushfires in Australia for example, or the destruction of the Amazon rainforest &#8211; a phenomenon called vicarious trauma. After an initial period of shock and outrage following the realisation of the extent of the climate crisis, many would fall into a state of depression, with little to no capacity for action. This is followed by acceptance, from which constructive action could follow. 
Rather than denying our feelings, climate grief can be tackled by embracing difficult emotions. As Leslie Davenport writes in Emotional Resiliency in the Era of Climate Change, “as we begin to express our thoughts, feelings and behaviour in alignment with our deepest values, we build tremendous strength and resiliency.” Observing our ‘emotional visitors’ without judgement is an essential part of that, she stresses and is the first step towards conscious adaptation to our lived realities. Rather than letting our grief become despair, we can use it as a tool to push for change.

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Cultivating resilience in the age of climate chaos

While the above serves as a brief introduction to different (environ)mental health phenomena, I want to stress that it is impossible to put these into strict categories. Many experiences of eco-anxiety, solastalgia, climate grief and eco-paralysis overlap, and the lines between them are often blurred. Insisting on strict definitions and categorisations would not do justice to the diversity of human experience with regard to the climate crisis, and would make a cross-cultural, intersectional approach to the topic impossible. The boon and bane of eco-anxiety and Co are that they do not fit into our institutionalised models of mental health &#8211; which on the one hand complicates access to professional services, but on the other hand, transcends the binary lens through which Western academia views mental health.

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So, how do we cultivate resilience in the face of perpetual crisis? 

On an individual level, the first step is to actively cherish what we still have. Time in nature is a powerful antidote to negative emotions. Research has found that spending just <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">120 minutes a week</a> in nature can seriously improve our mental health. 
However, to truly fight the intersecting crises of climate and mental health, we need other people. My own research showed that people drew the most strength from being in the community and realising that they’re not alone with their feelings. Community is where the spark of resistance is born, where movements are built. As someone who has experienced depression and anxiety from the state of the world, activism has often been a lifeline for me &#8211; given that it is <a href="https://shesapiens.com/mental-health-as-an-activist/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">balanced</a> with periods of rest, regeneration and active <a href="https://repeller.com/what-is-pleasure-activism/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joy</a>. 
The intimate relationship between climate and mental health highlights the interdependence of all things, where one action influences all others. To quote <a href="https://sarahjaquetteray.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sarah Jaquette Ray</a> in A field guide to climate anxiety, “in our Western culture, which prioritises reason over feeling, emotional intelligence is a radical concept.” It is time to reclaim that awareness and take action rooted in radical acceptance of our hurt, anger, fear and fierce love for the planet. And we must reclaim it collectively. Because politics won’t save us &#8211; only our communities can.

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Jessica Kleczka is a climate activist, social scientist and writer. With a background in Psychology and Environmental Science, she currently works in climate policy and as a freelance journalist, with a focus on amplifying grassroots movements around the world. She is passionate about mental health awareness and advocates for a just transition away from fossil fuels. Learn more about Jessica’s work <a href="https://www.jessicakleczka.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on her website</a>.

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A note from Ecologi 
 
In facing the climate crisis, we need all of us to be resilient. Resilience doesn’t mean never feeling sad or angry about climate change – it means taking steps to securing long term wellbeing and agency in the face of the challenges we face.
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If you are feeling burned out, overwhelmed, or in despair, we’ve collected some resources from organisations doing amazing work on eco-anxiety, which we hope might help.
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">The <a href="https://www.allwecansave.earth/project" target="_blank" rel="noopener">All We Can Save Project</a> is an amazing resource for community building and sharing deeper dialogue about the climate crisis. There’s a book, All We Can Save, to read – or you could <a href="https://www.allwecansave.earth/circles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">start an All We Can Save Circle</a> which you could start with your friends or in your workplace. The Project also lists resources for <a href="https://www.allwecansave.earth/emotions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">working with climate emotions</a>.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Force of Nature runs <a href="https://www.forceofnature.xyz/podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a thought-provoking podcast</a> centred around eco-anxiety and how to turn eco-anxiety into agency, as well as <a href="https://www.forceofnature.xyz/the-bloom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a media platform called The Bloom</a> for young voices to express their feelings, thoughts and actions in the face of the climate crisis.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.theresilienceproject.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Resilience Project</a> trains young people to run peer-to-peer support circles based on the latest insights from psychology and neuroscience to <a href="https://www.theresilienceproject.org.uk/our-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener">build a resilient generation of youth</a>.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.climatepsychologyalliance.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Climate Psychology Alliance</a> holds regular online ‘<a href="https://www.climatepsychologyalliance.org/events/500-climate-cafe-jan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Climate Cafes’</a> which you can attend to discuss fears &amp; uncertainties about our climate &amp; ecological crisis, all while in a safe and empathetic space with others who feel the same.

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The Impact of the Internet: risks of the digital era

The last Blockbuster store remains in Oregon as of 2022, symbolising how we have truly shifted into a new era of digital transformation. And as many opt for alternatives in this hyper-digital world, we must also acknowledge the somewhat surprising effect that the internet has on the environment and whether the risks outweigh the positives.

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How much is the internet contributing to carbon emissions?

With streaming services, innovative technology and even a global pandemic, the demand for digital technology continues to be on the rise. According to the <a href="https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Pages/stat/default.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ITU</a> (International Telecommunication Union), <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200305-why-your-internet-habits-are-not-as-clean-as-you-think" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4.1 billion people or 56.6%</a> of the world now uses the internet. The entire internet infrastructure (including the systems that enable it to exist and operate and the gadgets we use to connect to it) is responsible for approximately <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200305-why-your-internet-habits-are-not-as-clean-as-you-think" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3.7%</a> of global greenhouse gas emissions. Data centres in the US alone are responsible for <a href="https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/data-centers-and-servers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2% of the country’s electricity use</a>.
Around a decade ago, Alex Wissner-Gross, an environmental fellow at Harvard University claimed that<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ethicallivingblog/2009/jan/12/carbon-emissions-google" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> two Google searches produces as much carbon dioxide as boiling the kettle for a cup of tea</a>. Wissner-Gross highlighted that by Google fulfilling its primary aim to provide <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ethicallivingblog/2009/jan/12/carbon-emissions-google" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fast internet searches</a>, it ultimately placed a burden on the amount of energy that is required. The Guardian interpreted this claim by Wissner-Gross to say that it would mean <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ethicallivingblog/2009/jan/12/carbon-emissions-google" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3,500 tonnes of CO2 is released daily (or 1.28 million tonnes per year)</a> just by using the infamous search engine. To allow more of a visual representation, they compared this to the carbon emissions produced by Laos, a country home to over <a href="https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/laos-population#:~:text=The%20current%20population%20of%20Laos,1%2C%202022%20population%20at%207%2C481%2C023." target="_blank" rel="noopener">7 million citizens</a>. Therefore, claiming that the digital era is ‘less energy-hungry’ may be a pretence as it could actually consume as much as it did <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/aug/12/carbon-footprint-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">around 20 years ago</a>. However, in the past 10 years or so, some companies operating in this space have realised the need to meet their huge energy demands by using <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/28/google-tech-giants-spark-record-rise-in-sales-of-renewable-energy">energy from renewable source</a>s rather than fossil fuels, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions they are responsible for. Carbon offsetting has also been funded by some of these corporations in order to reduce the impact on the planet of the emissions they are responsible for. What hasn&#8217;t changed though, and is in fact still increasing, is the huge amount of energy consumed by their activities, and consequently by our usage of the internet.

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Web hosting can be described as a <a href="https://medium.com/wedonthavetime/guest-blog-post-the-alarming-environmental-impact-of-the-internet-and-how-you-can-help-6ff892b8730d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘rented home that a website lives in’</a>, and being a carbon-neutral web host means making sustainable choices to safeguard the environment.   Thus, for activity on the website to be seen as sustainable, the ‘house’ the search is conducted in, the files are accessed from, and the data is stored in, must also follow sustainable practices. 
Data centres can be interpreted as one of the core issues of how the internet is contributing to the current climate crisis, as they account for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/aug/12/carbon-footprint-internet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">around half a percent of global CO2 emissions</a>. According to The Shift Project, data centres contribute up to <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/c719f655-149c-4ce0-a7a5-18527c7776cf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">15% of the IT sector’s digital footprint</a>. Furthermore, statistics show that Google has emitted <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/c719f655-149c-4ce0-a7a5-18527c7776cf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1.5 million tonnes</a> of greenhouse gases in 2020, Microsoft emitted around <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/c719f655-149c-4ce0-a7a5-18527c7776cf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">16 million tonnes</a>, and Amazon emitted a whopping <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/c719f655-149c-4ce0-a7a5-18527c7776cf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">44 million tonnes</a>. With more than <a href="https://www.bigcommerce.com/blog/amazon-statistics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">197 million</a> people searching products on Amazon everyday (which is about 98.5 million cups of tea, I might add), carbon-neutral web hosting may be a solution to this rising issue.
Krystal hosting has responsibly planted over 1 million trees with Ecologi and were recently presented with a sustainable award to celebrate this special milestone. Krystal uses <a href="https://krystal.uk/green" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100% renewable electricity</a> from sources like the sun, wind and sea, as opposed to non-renewable sources like coal, oil, and natural gas. In 2017, Krystal became one of the first hosts to be run wholly on renewable energy and each and every one of their data centres has also achieved a PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) <a href="https://krystal.uk/green" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rating of at least 1.2</a>, which is regarded as ‘very efficient’. Krystal will also be offsetting lifetime carbon emissions of their employees, which is approximately around 20,420 tonnes of CO2e.  
Simon Blackler, Krystal CEO and Founder, said that “Last year we co-founded <a href="https://www.milliontreepledge.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MillionTreePledge.org</a> and after planting 1.2 million trees via Ecologi in 9 months, we completed the first part of the pledge. We’ve now set our sights on protecting or planting 1 billion trees by 2030.” 
Simon went further to explain the impact of <a href="https://ecologi.com/collective-action" target="_blank" rel="noopener">collective action</a> and how “combined efforts of many businesses of all sizes, can and will, make the impact our planet so desperately needs.” 
 
Ecologi readers wishing to use Krystal Hosting will be offered a 50% discount with code EcologiEarthDay22 during checkout, until the end of May. (T&amp;C’s apply).

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With <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/03/internet-carbon-footprint" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1.5 billion people </a>using the net, it is no surprise that experts have estimated an annual <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/may/03/internet-carbon-footprint" target="_blank" rel="noopener">growth of 10%</a> in total energy footprints. 
A researcher at <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200305-why-your-internet-habits-are-not-as-clean-as-you-think" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lancaster university</a> compared the use of the internet to the airline industry, stating that they both emitted ‘similar levels’ of carbon emissions. To put that in context, the aviation industry is responsible for <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200218-climate-change-how-to-cut-your-carbon-emissions-when-flying" target="_blank" rel="noopener">5% of global warming</a>, accumulating around <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-calculating-the-true-climate-impact-of-aviation-emissions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">32.6 billion tonnes of CO2e since 1940</a>. To make matters worse, it is predicted that these emissions will <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200305-why-your-internet-habits-are-not-as-clean-as-you-think" target="_blank" rel="noopener">double by 2025</a>. Some predictions are indicative of the fact that the internet will actually contribute to <a href="https://royalsociety.org/blog/2020/05/internet-emissions-whats-the-issue/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">23% of global carbon emissions by 2030</a>. 
<a href="https://www.clientearth.org/latest/latest-updates/stories/fossil-fuels-and-climate-change-the-facts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">80% of energy</a> used worldwide is dependent on non-renewable energy sources, and so are the most searched websites. A study conducted at Yale identified how internet usage increased by up to <a href="https://news.yale.edu/2021/01/27/surge-digital-activity-has-hidden-environmental-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">40% since lockdown occurred</a> in 2020, and that the environmental implications from this may have been overlooked. The study mentions how a <a href="https://news.yale.edu/2021/01/27/surge-digital-activity-has-hidden-environmental-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forest twice the size of Portugal</a> would be required just to offset the emissions that occurred from 2020 to 2021, as a result of staying at home. In some way, the pandemic acted as a control variable, allowing experts to measure the impact that excess use of the internet has on the climate. 
<a href="https://www.websitecarbon.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Website Carbon</a> can help you identify and measure how much carbon a website emits each time its <a href="https://medium.com/wedonthavetime/guest-blog-post-the-alarming-environmental-impact-of-the-internet-and-how-you-can-help-6ff892b8730d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">homepage is visited.</a> 
Changes made now are crucial to moving away from high levels of risk that the internet poses for the environment and prospective climate initiatives. Simple actions can help, such as carbon-neutral web hosting, avoiding the urge to send unnecessary emails or limiting the number of files we save but don&#8217;t necessarily need. Of course, these feel rather insignificant, but collectively they lead to large-scale impact. It’s mind-boggling to think that if everyone in the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200305-why-your-internet-habits-are-not-as-clean-as-you-think" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UK sent one less ‘thank you’ email, 16,433 tonnes of carbon</a> could be saved in just one year. On top of that, did you know that the quality of streaming videos also affects the level of carbon emissions emitted? This means that if <a href="https://news.yale.edu/2021/01/27/surge-digital-activity-has-hidden-environmental-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">70 million streaming subscribers </a>reduced the quality of their video, <a href="https://news.yale.edu/2021/01/27/surge-digital-activity-has-hidden-environmental-costs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3.5 million tonnes of emissions</a> could be avoided from entering our atmosphere.

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How can the internet help raise awareness?

It&#8217;s not all sombre clouds and weeping willows when it comes to the internet! In fact, in many ways the internet has helped introduce the concept of sustainability to the wider population. Be it by blogs, websites, digital news outlets or social media platforms, the world today provides endless means to accessing information relating to climate change. In other words, the internet has <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/social-media-and-saving-t_b_9100362" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reshaped our communication</a> and the way that we connect environmental challenges with feasible solutions. 
The director of Yale’s climate change communications program, said that the percentage of Americans who now viewed global warming as important was a <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/climate-change-awareness-polls-show-rising-concern-for-global-warming" target="_blank" rel="noopener">record-high 72% since 2018</a>. Meanwhile, in 2020, it was reported that around <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/articles/threequartersofadultsingreatbritainworryaboutclimatechange/2021-11-05" target="_blank" rel="noopener">three-quarters (76%) of adults living in the UK</a> were worried about climate change. 
The concept of ‘<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/08/25/environmental-education-will-shape-a-new-generation-of-decision-makers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conservation starts with education</a>’ relays the importance of acknowledging the role that the internet plays in building environmental awareness. In fact, a study conducted by Southern Cross University revealed that <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/07/23/77-of-people-want-to-learn-how-to-live-more-sustainably/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">77%</a> of individuals were eager to learn about living a sustainable lifestyle. Whilst, an incredible <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/07/23/77-of-people-want-to-learn-how-to-live-more-sustainably/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">93%</a> voiced concerns about the future of the planet.

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We can visibly measure the impact that digital communication has on the environment from turnouts for World Cleanup days, protests, and demonstrations continuing to increase exponentially. This influx of support has been thought to be generated predominantly by Gen Z, who appear to have a huge impact on leading brands due to their <a href="https://medium.com/@percevalroger_16306/how-social-media-helps-increasing-environmental-awareness-22daa21cbf8d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high purchasing power</a>. 
Not just that, the surge of young climate activists who appear on social media has captivated the attention of millions around the world. According to the UNFCCC, ‘<a href="https://www.un.org/youthenvoy/environment-climate-change/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Young people are key actors in raising awareness</a>’. These individuals make appearances at major climate events, such as <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/11/09/meet-the-youth-activists-fighting-for-climate-action-at-cop26.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COP26</a> and are involved in discussions with world leaders to make a real change to their future. By gaining momentum on their following, these young activists have been able to pressure governments and businesses into meeting their environmental targets and agreements. 
Recently, two sisters were able to convince Kellogs, a multinational company dominating <a href="https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/analysis-change-kelloggs-top-table-kellogg-quick-answer-departure-its-marketing-chief-new-appointment-tania-mason-asks-changes-top-will-impact-cereals/149661#:~:text=Kellogg%20is%20unrivalled%20in%20terms,of%20the%20top%2015%20brands." target="_blank" rel="noopener">over 30%</a> of the market share for breakfast cereals, to halt their use of <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-51551431" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unsustainable palm oil</a>. This occurred as a result of a petition they started online, which was inspired by a documentary the girls had previously watched. Therefore, the internet has not only played a massive role in educating younger generations about the dangers of unsustainable practices, but has also provided them with a platform to voice their concerns.

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There is no doubt that the internet has helped connect us to the bigger picture and offered opportunities to make a real change. However, there’s also no denying the negative impact that the internet continues to have on the climate. Technology is only expanding, individuals are looking for newer and better digital designs and businesses are seeking ways in which they can increase their efficiency. All this places a huge amount of pressure on our planet and moving forward, this must be accounted for. 
We cannot stop anyone from using the internet, that is a given, but we can all be more responsible in how we send emails, save files, or watch videos. In the same way we replaced plastic straws and bags with reusable materials, let’s do our best to make our use of the internet a sustainable one.
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Climate Emergency

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Earth Day 2022: What is it and how can you take climate action

<h3>Reversing climate change is possible… which is why taking climate action on Earth Day is more important than ever before.  </h3>

This year, we’re excited to be teaming up with TV personality, and entrepreneur, Steven Bartlett to paint a picture of hope for our planet and remind us what’s possible through collective action. 
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When we come together to face the challenge of our times, every one of us can make a difference this Earth Day.
<a href="https://ecologi.com/plan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Start planting trees with us this April, and we&#8217;ll plant 100 extra trees just for you!</a>
As we gear up for one of the most important days in the climate activism calendar, here’s exactly what you need to know about Earth Day 2022 and how you can get involved.

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Earth Day has been a growing movement since 1970 and is recognised every year on the 22nd of April. Earth Day raises awareness for global environmental protection and gives the world an opportunity to come together and take action. The Earth Day movement asks that everyone acts boldly, innovates broadly, and implements actions fairly &#8211; stating on their <a href="https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a> that “it’s going to take all of us. All in. Businesses, governments, and citizens — everyone accounted for, and everyone accountable. A partnership for the planet”. 
 
You might already start seeing Earth Day content in your social feeds, but as we start getting nearer to the day individuals and businesses start to take action. Earth Day is a global platform that highlights specific issues, bringing them to the attention of world leaders and big businesses who have the means to make an immediate positive impact, so let’s look at the call to climate action a bit more. 
With each passing year, the necessity for action, like that motivated by Earth Day increases, and the campaign is gaining more and more momentum. With more individuals and businesses wanting to address and open up the conversation around climate change.
While all aspects of climate are equally as important, every year Earth Day focuses on a key theme to raise awareness of ways people can create change, and 2022’s Earth Day theme is Invest in our Planet.

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You may be familiar with the term ethical finance, or sustainable finance; it’s used to describe the kind of money that positively considers environmental, social and governance factors. What people usually don’t realise is that money can really create change if we understand how it’s used against the environment.
So, what does Ethical finance mean? This term for Earth Day describes the investment and capital needed for governments, businesses and individuals to secure a better future for our planet. This year’s Earth Day theme is a plea to the world’s governments to pass the necessary regulations and promote a green economy, not just in their own country, but internationally. 
We can’t discuss ethical finances without stressing the need to invest in innovators and innovation. But it doesn’t have to be about the big bucks for us everyday folk. In fact, it doesn’t have to be about finances at all. A big message for this Earth Day is the need for us individuals to invest in our personal time, our political votes and our community. It’s vital that we invest our votes in leaders that actively care and provide viable solutions to a growing problem, as well as businesses feeling the pressure of consumers to change their models for the better – just like many did during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finance and sustainability need to become more aligned. Ethical finance sees that investments are sustainable – not just the likes of recycling and renewable energy – but models with credible backing that are enforceable by law. We want governments and businesses to be accountable for their commitments to overcoming climate change.
For too long, governments and businesses have relied on products and processes that harm our planet because they’re convenient and historically cheaper than greener alternatives. Of course, if we’re lucky enough to be investing our own money, it’s important to invest in green products, like Ecologi’s 2021 Crowdfunding campaign.

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Earth Day aims to highlight the power that we hold as individuals, as each and every one of us can really make a difference together &#8211; through the power of collective action. 
The official Earth Day 2022 website provides a <a href="https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2022-action-toolkit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">handy toolkit</a>, which details everything from the right hashtags, downloadable graphics to share on your socials, and literature regarding the main programs.
You could also <a href="https://www.earthday.org/actions/register-your-earth-day-event/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">register for an Earth Day event near your hometown</a> or join a <a href="https://www.earthday.org/campaign/cleanup/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cleanup</a>. Earthday.org also provides <a href="https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-tips/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">52 Ways to Get Involved with Earth Day</a> in case you get really stuck for ideas.
If you’re looking to start making a positive impact on the environment today, you can also read our <a href="https://ecologi.com/articles/blog/environmental-activism-your-first-steps" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecologi guide to Environmental activism</a>, which also talks about making your personal finances greener, and for businesses head to our <a href="https://ecologi.com/business/zero" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ecologi Zero page</a> to learn more about our real-time carbon footprinting product for every business.

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<h2>Make a difference this Earth Day </h2>
People say that the climate crisis is too big to solve, but the truth is that it’s possible if we come together. We believe in the power of possible, which is why environmental activism has to go beyond Earth Day and the 22nd of April – helping to save the planet is a year-round mission. 
Earth Day marks the opportunity to get involved, start helping and make a difference.  
Grow a forest this Earth Day and we’ll give you 100 trees in your forest!
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Earth Day 2022: What is it and how can you take climate action

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