What is climate restoration?
Climate restoration is the goal and associated actions to restore atmospheric CO2 to safe levels that humans can survive.
Pre-industrial CO2 levels were around 300 ppm (parts per million). We determine the parts per million by counting the number of CO2 molecules in a million air molecules. Our atmospheric CO2 is currently over 400 ppm. By targeting 300 ppm, we aim to recapture the balance that our planet enjoyed before the industrial era, thereby avoiding climate disasters.
Learn more by watching these short videos:
How is climate restoration different from other climate measures?
In the realm of climate change, adaptation and mitigation have been the stars of the show for a while now. But there’s a crucial player missing from the spotlight – restoration. At F4CR, our mission is clear: we’re championing climate restoration as the ultimate goal of climate action. While adaptation and mitigation are essential parts of the tapestry, restoration is the thread that brings it all together and ultimately brings our atmospheric CO2 back to safe levels. Let’s talk a little more about the difference between the three approaches.
Adaptation is about getting ready for the impacts of climate change that are already knocking on our door. Think building sturdier houses to handle stronger storms or planting drought-resistant crops. Adapting is our way of saying, “Ok, we know our climate has changed and we’re going to adjust.”
Mitigation is about lessening the impact of those extra greenhouse gases we’ve been sending into the atmosphere. This is where we roll up our sleeves and swap out fossil fuels for cleaner energy, like wind or sunlight. Picture it as giving Earth a bit of a breather from all the extra heat-trapping activities. Mitigation is us saying, “We’re going to stop doing the harmful things that got us into this situation.”
Climate Restoration goes beyond adapting and mitigating. It’s about actually reversing the damage we’ve done to the climate. This is where we actively remove those extra greenhouse gases from the air and oceans, bringing things back into a balance that makes life possible for us. With restoration we’re saying, “Alright, let’s clean up this mess so we can give our kids and grandkids a climate that is livable.”
Adaptation can help get us ready for changes, mitigation slows the damage, but climate restoration is what makes the Earth livable for us and the generations to come.
