FSC Canada / Wolf Eye Productions

What are the best solutions to climate change?

Learn about climate change solutions that can help mitigate the ongoing threat of climate change, from reforestation efforts to climate-friendly transportation.

May 31, 2024

With carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere reaching the highest levels they’ve ever seen in the last 400,000 years, the need for action has never been clearer. Climate change presents various issues, from rising temperatures and extreme weather events to dwindling resources and threatened ecosystems.

As complex as the issue is, there is hope. In the face of these challenges, there are climate change solutions that offer a roadmap towards a more sustainable and resilient future. From prioritizing sustainable forestry to adopting climate-friendly transportation, here are some of the best solutions to climate change to adopt in 2024 and beyond.

Table of contents:

Protect and conserve forests
Practise climate-smart forestry and agriculture
Embrace organic farming practices
Switch to climate-friendly transportation
Shop FSC-certified products

Protect and conserve forests

Forests provide many ecological benefits, including soil stabilization, water regulation, and habitat preservation for countless species. The trees in our forests take in carbon from the air as they grow, acting as a natural “carbon sink” that reduces carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

Because of this, planting new trees in places where forests have been cleared is key to preventing climate change. However, it’s not just about planting trees; it’s equally important to manage and take care of these reforested areas to ensure their long-term success. To help save the Earth from climate change, a three-pronged approach is needed:

Protect and conserve forests: Mature trees are champions at capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. By protecting existing forests, stored carbon can be prevented from being released back into the air, mitigating climate change. Diverse forests also support healthy ecosystems that play a crucial role in regulating the climate. Protecting these ecosystems ensures they continue to function effectively, promoting natural cooling processes.
Reforest and restore degraded forests: Planting trees in previously deforested areas creates new opportunities for carbon capture. As these trees grow, they absorb CO₂ and store it, effectively removing it from the atmosphere. Reforestation efforts can also help bring back lost habitats for countless species, promoting biodiversity and restoring the natural balance within ecosystems. This can have a positive impact on climate regulation, as healthy ecosystems are more resilient to change.
Manage sustainably forested areas: Sustainable forest management practices help ensure that replanted trees grow healthy and strong, maximizing their carbon capture potential. This includes selective logging techniques and planting native species best suited for the environment. In turn, this ensures the long-term viability of reforested areas as effective carbon sinks and healthy ecosystems.

By working on all three fronts—protection, restoration, and sustainable management—these efforts can help combat climate change and foster thriving ecosystems.

Illustrated trees accompany 3 benefits of reforestation and sustainably managed forests for climate change.

One key element of this goal is sustainable forestry, or managing forests to ensure their long-term health, productivity, and biodiversity while meeting the needs of present and future generations. This involves harvesting the right trees at the right time within the right area, striking a balance between ecological, economic, and social considerations.

By carefully selecting which trees to harvest and leaving behind sufficient trees for regeneration, sustainable forestry practices minimize disruption to forest dynamics and promote natural regeneration processes. As well, measures such as fire prevention to protect forest ecosystems from wildfires and reducing the use of fertilizers to minimize environmental impacts can also help ensure the long-term health and resilience of forests.

FSC has strict requirements that maintain the biodiversity and productivity of forests, including planning forest management interventions, evaluating the impact of different forest risks, and implementing key activities for forests with high conservation values (HCV).

Practise climate-smart forestry and agriculture

U.S. forests absorb nearly 16 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions per year, equivalent to the annual emissions from 50 million vehicles. This underscores the significant carbon sequestration capacity of forests and highlights the importance of embracing climate-smart forestry and agriculture practices.

According to FSC’s carbon storage study, forest management is one of the few methods for sequestering carbon that offers a cost-effective way to address the climate crisis. Key findings from the study showed, for example, that FSC-managed forests in the Gulf Coastal Plain stored an addition 1.00 Tonnes of CO2e per acre compared to common practice.

Five illustrations accompany a list of five important climate change solutions.

Embrace organic farming practices

Organic farming practices offer a sustainable alternative to conventional agriculture practices, and the FAO found in a meta-analysis of 766 scientific papers that biodiversity is higher in organic farming than in conventional farming. It minimizes reliance on synthetic inputs, reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture and protecting the integrity of our ecosystem.

Key elements of organic farming include replacing synthetic pesticides and fertilizers with natural, environmentally friendly methods. By eliminating reliance on chemical inputs, organic agriculture reduces the release of greenhouse gases associated with synthetic fertilizers. The resulting healthier soils can also act as carbon sinks, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and further reducing greenhouse gas levels.

Through initiatives like permaculture, regenerative agriculture, and holistic grazing, farmers can harness the power of nature to cultivate food in harmony with the planet, fostering resilience in the face of climate change while nurturing thriving ecosystems.

Switch to climate-friendly transportation

Transitioning to climate-friendly transportation is a pivotal step in reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change, especially since 15 per cent of global emissions come from road transport and 2% came from aviation in 2022.

Prioritizing public transportation, walking, and cycling reduces individual carbon footprints, alleviates traffic congestion, and promotes healthier lifestyles. Public transportation systems offer eco-friendly alternatives to driving personal vehicles, reducing overall emissions while enhancing accessibility for communities.

An illustrated car with gas emissions coming out of the back as it drives accompanies a list of three climate-friendly transportation alternatives.

One key strategy to lowering carbon emissions in the transportation sector is investing in electric vehicles (EVs). EVs, powered by clean electricity, help to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, and will play a crucial role in aligning with a 2050 Net Zero Emissions target.

Shop FSC-certified products

Choosing products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) is a proactive step towards combating climate change and promoting sustainable forestry practices. FSC certification ensures that wood and paper products come from sustainably managed forests, where biodiversity is preserved, local communities are supported, and carbon sequestration is maximized.

Forests act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing and storing significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. By supporting sustainable forestry practices through the purchase of FSC-certified products, consumers help maintain and expand these carbon sinks (and get to learn more about why forests matter), reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Sustainable forestry practices may include:

Selective harvesting
Watershed management
Soil conservation
Indigenous stewardship
Community-based forest management

Choosing FSC-certified products also promotes market demand for sustainably sourced materials, encouraging companies to adopt environmentally responsible practices throughout their supply chains. Individuals can contribute to the broader efforts to address climate change by aligning choices with sustainability goals at the consumer level.

Want to join the fight against climate change and the biodiversity crisis? Learn how to take action with FSC’s Verified Impact, which helps businesses access high-quality climate, forest and nature data from FSC-certified forests.

Forest managers should learn how to leverage FSC’s ecosystem services claims to highlight how a difference is being made through a commitment to responsible forestry.

Additional resources

Read more about the sustainable use of biodiversity through landscapes and ecosystem approaches from FAO’s Strategy on Biodiversity Mainstreaming across Agricultural Sectors. Learn about ongoing research on sustainable forestry across eastern United States forests with The University of Maine’s Center for Research on Sustainable Forests. Read more about the effects of unsustainable forestry on climate change from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

For international research, check the state of the world’s forests and biodiversity through the Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations.