How Do Community Gardens Reduce Emissions Of Greenhouse Gases?

The global movement Count Us In aims to inspire 1 billion people to take practical steps and challenge their leaders to act more boldly on climate change. In Arlington County, Virginia, the dominant utility derives at least 50 percent of its energy from fossil fuels, leaving electricity consumers with little power over their carbon footprints. A new UK campaign aims to encourage people to make small changes to create a greener, more sustainable future. Biodiversity can have a positive effect on climate change, and community gardens may reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve resiliency in vulnerable communities.

Cities only cover 2 of the world’s surface, yet they consume 78 percent of the world’s energy and produce more than 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. As cities recover from COVID-19, partnerships and collaborative efforts can help rebuild cities to be climate-smart and inclusive. Results show that greening of 35 of the EU’s urban surface would avoid up to 55.8 million tons of CO2 equivalent of greenhouse gas.

Urban wastes can be used as agricultural inputs to conserve carbon by engaging in “urban symbiosis”, which includes giving a second life to used materials. Urban agriculture can have six times the climate impact of traditional agriculture, and sustainable gardening and landscaping techniques can slow future warming by reducing carbon emissions and increasing carbon storage in soil and plants. Growing food in the community can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste from the total life cycle of food production.

How can communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

Climate change solutions are being implemented globally, with some being tackled by individuals, such as using less energy, cycling, driving electric cars, and switching to renewable energy. Communities, regions, and nations are also working together to make changes, such as switching power plants to renewable energy and increasing public transit.

Using less electricity, especially from burning coal or gas, can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Simple steps to reduce electricity use include replacing incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs, adding insulation, and setting the thermostat lower in winter and higher in summer. New technologies, such as heat-reflecting glass, low-flow water fixtures, smart thermostats, and air conditioning with non-warming refrigerants, can also help keep buildings energy-efficient. Green or cool roofs in urban and suburban environments can also help reduce the urban heat island effect.

How do community gardens fight climate change?

Community gardens can significantly enhance New York City’s resilience to climate change by providing shade, absorbing solar radiation, managing stormwater runoff, and capturing carbon from the atmosphere. However, they face regulatory uncertainty, with current GreenThumb program-registered gardens having only four-year leases. Thousands of grassroots organizers cultivated gardens across the five boroughs in the 1960s, but faced opposition from the city government.

In 2019, GreenThumb made changes to licensing that endangered over 100 gardens. Gardeners view gardens as a lifelong and intergenerational project, while policymakers have historically seen them as temporary uses of space. However, views may be changing, as New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson unveiled a package of bills and policies to address food insecurity in August 2019. This would be the city’s first comprehensive food plan, and Growing Food Equity in NYC has an entire section dedicated to community gardens.

How do plants reduce greenhouse gases?

Plants play a crucial role in cooling the atmosphere by consuming carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and releasing water vapor when they get hot, similar to sweating. The amount and extent of vegetation cannot be determined from raw satellite images alone, so scientists must manipulate the images. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is a preferred method for extracting information about vegetation from satellite data. NDVI is produced by observing the discrepancy between visible and near-infrared sunlight that reflects off of vegetation.

The pigment in plant leaves, chlorophyll, strongly absorbs visible light for photosynthesis, while the cell structure of leaves strongly reflects near-infrared solar light. By measuring the difference between these two wavelengths in remote sensing data, scientists can get a relative measure of vegetation. If the difference is large, an area is likely to be densely vegetated, and if the value is small, the vegetation is likely to be sparse. Understanding the role of plants in the hydrosphere and their carbon dioxide consumption is essential for understanding the hydrosphere’s climate.

How does a community garden help the environment?

Community gardens play a crucial role in improving air and soil quality, increasing plant biodiversity, reducing waste, and promoting sustainable agriculture practices. They also contribute to reducing air pollution by restoring vacant land and ecosystems, improving water infiltration, promoting biodiversity through native plant planting, and educating the community about gardening and urban agriculture. Additionally, community gardens reduce food transport, reducing air pollution, and promote sustainable agriculture practices, ultimately fostering social inclusion and a healthier environment.

How do gardens reduce carbon emissions?

Gardeners can help reduce heat-trapping gases by growing plants and building healthy soils. Plants use sunlight to pull carbon dioxide out of the air, making sugar glucose needed for growth. Home composting reduces methane and other greenhouse gases from landfills by using leaves, grass, woody clippings, dead plants, and food scraps as compost. Compost feeds soil microbes that sequester carbon and improves soil fertility. Compost can be used as a substitute for synthetic fertilizers and makes excellent mulch.

Cities can collect yard and food waste to turn into commercial compost, vermiculture, or biochar, which can be used to amend soils better. A healthy soil microbial community stores large amounts of carbon in the soil, and soil bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi make minerals and nutrients more available to plants. Avoid practices that disrupt the vital soil community and layer organic matter like mulches or compost on top.

Lawns act as net carbon emitters over the long term, contributing to climate change. To reduce the climate impact, use recommended amounts of fertilizer, decrease watering and mowing frequency, cut grass higher, and do not bag clippings. Replacing some lawns areas with plants can further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower watering requirements.

How do community gardens improve air quality?

Landscape plants improve air quality by removing dust, erosion, and airborne pollutants. They absorb pollutants like ozone, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. Green spaces also cleanse water. Stressed, failing plants and landscapes are contrary to good environmental stewardship and save a few percentages of the state’s water resource. Supporting living, climate-appropriate landscapes is crucial for environmental benefits and preserving water resources.

Do community gardens reduce food waste?

Community gardens can address issues in urban and rural communities, particularly in food deserts. These gardens provide residents with access to fresh, nutritious food, strengthen community ties, reduce environmental hazards, and promote sustainability. Greenspaces in cities have been linked to better physical, mental, and social health. Community gardens also reduce food miles, reducing waste due to long transit times. They offer a space for children and community members to meet and enjoy fresh produce.

Adding a community garden to areas with limited locally sourced food options can improve nutrition and reduce obesity, which is a concern for some Oklahomans. Social ties are also crucial for community wellbeing. Community gardens foster social connections, reducing crime, empowering residents, and making them feel safe in their neighborhoods.

How does gardening help climate change?

Gardeners can play a crucial role in combating climate change by adopting sustainable practices. These practices can reduce carbon emissions and increase carbon storage in soil and plants. By incorporating native plant diversity, improving soil health, growing heat-tolerant vegetable crops, and using stormwater management, gardens can become more resilient to climate change.

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, gardeners should opt for rechargeable electric-powered lawn and garden equipment, such as mowers and weed trimmers, and use rakes or brooms instead of leaf blowers. Planting lawn alternatives where grass doesn’t grow well can reduce mowing and fertilizer inputs, providing essential wildlife habitat.

Use synthetic nitrogen fertilizers wisely, as they contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Test soil before applying any fertilizer. Plant trees and landscapes to conserve energy, as Maryland aims to plant 5 million native trees by 2031 to mitigate climate change. Trees offer numerous benefits, including shading and cooling urban heat islands, carbon sequestration, and improving air quality.

How do gardens reduce air pollution?

Landscape plants can improve air quality by removing dust and absorbing pollutants like ozone, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. They also reduce water pollution by allowing water to run through landscapes, reducing storm water runoff and keeping pollutants out of ground water. Green spaces also help in fire suppression, as plants that are not hydrated burn better, regardless of their native or non-native nature. The popular belief that native plants are more fire-prone is false, as it depends on the plant’s hydration.

Fire resistance in urban/wildland interfaces can be greatly improved by frequent “refreshing splashes” in the evening, which use very little water but maintain good moisture levels in plants, making them more fire-resistant.

What are 5 ways to reduce greenhouse gases?

GHG reduction programs and strategies include energy efficiency, renewable energy, supply chain, waste reduction and diversion strategies, reducing methane emissions, and increasing fuel efficiency in transportation and logistics. The U. S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR Program, partnered with over 15, 000 organizations, provides technical information and tools to help organizations and consumers choose energy-efficient solutions and best management practices. These strategies aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet emissions targets, ensuring a cleaner and more sustainable environment.

How can farming reduce greenhouse gases?

To reduce agricultural greenhouse gases, use livestock feed additives, practice rotational grazing to sequester carbon in the soil, select high-quality feed to reduce methane released from enteric fermentation, manage manure to reduce methane and nitrous oxide, cover manure storage facilities, optimize manure use with a nutrient management plan, and capture and combust methane from manure storage. These practices can help sequester carbon and mitigate GHG emissions from livestock and manure, ultimately reducing the overall greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural activities.