Current climate change is actually one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. It is advancing at a threatening speed and the effects on people and nature are becoming more and more visible. The whole world is affected by it and the topic is featured daily in the global media. But what is the solution if everyone is talking about it, but the consequences are still increasing in magnitude?

What exactly does Climate change actually? How and by whom is it caused and what are the serious ones Follow? And especially: what does climate change mean for our treesthat give us the oxygen we need? How can you support the trees in times of climate change?

Here you can find out everything you should know about climate change. This issue affects us all and we really shouldn't look the other way anymore.

What exactly does climate change mean?

As climate change, the Warming or cooling of the climate designated on earth. This is about a long-term change in the global climate and not just about the daily changing weather. Our climate has been changing for millions of years. Back then there was still the Ice Age. After the Ice Age, the earth warmed by around 4 to 5 degrees in 10.000 years.

An example of climate change is currently the global warming. This means that the average temperature on earth is rising more and more and both oceans and atmosphere are warming up.

In the last 50 years the temperature has even increased by 0,13 degrees, which was twice as fast as in the last 100 years. Compared to the warming after the Ice Age, our current temperature increase means almost the same warming in just 100 years. Doesn't that sound very threatening?

What are the causes of climate change and who is responsible for it?

Above all, our climate changes through the Greenhouse effect. Without this natural effect our earth would be frozen over and no life would be possible. Here, the rays of the sun hitting the earth are reflected by the atmosphere (consisting of greenhouse gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide or methane) and most of the rays are sent back into space.

However, it is assumed that the really threatening climate change caused by humans (anthropogenic climate change) is caused. Industrialization is a key factor in this. This is where the Burning fossil fuels such as lignite, crude oil or hard coal play a role. This releases twice the amount of CO2 (carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere than without human participation. Fossil energies are primarily used to generate electricity and drive vehicles.

In addition, climate change is also caused by the Livestock and food production influenced. Cows and sheep in particular produce large amounts of it Methane in digesting their feed. Nitrogen is also used in conventional fertilizers, which is converted into nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and can get off the ground into the air. Incidentally, most of the nitrous oxide in the atmosphere comes from East Asia and South America.

Unfortunately, humans also have a negative impact on the climate through deforestation. Our trees contribute to climate regulation by absorbing CO2.

What are the consequences of climate change?

First of all, the greenhouse effect is causing global warming. Global warming, in turn increases the sea levelwhat the loss of habitat and Waves of refugees means. Climate change also ensures Glacial melt as well as the Shift of climate zones and increases the risk for Forest fires. Also the occurrence of precipitation is changed and weather extremes like Droughts through heat waves, Storms or Flooding increase. Likewise can Parasites and pathogens spread faster due to the current climate development.

According to various climate facts, especially the years 2015-2020 in Germany are among the warmest years since observations began in 1880. The average temperatures are thus increasing worldwide.

The 1,5 degree target was set, for example, to limit the global temperature increase due to the man-made greenhouse effect to 1,5 degrees. Almost all countries in the world have agreed to take various measures to ensure that this goal is achieved. In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change came to the conclusion that human CO2 emissions must decrease significantly long before 2030 and should reach zero emissions by 2050. But does that really sound like an achievable goal? And what can each of us do about it today?    

CO2 emissions from factories

Climate change also means that the distribution of precipitation is changing more and more. This means that it often stops raining for a long time. Often there are only a few days Heavy rainwhich in turn has the disadvantage that the amount of water can no longer be absorbed by the ground. The consequence of this is, in turn, a falling groundwater level.

Political measures as consequences must not be forgotten either. There is a national water plan, for which water should only be used when it becomes scarce or agriculture is on Drip irrigation rearranged. As a result, every year in some regions of Germany people have to be supplied with water by the fire brigade.

What does climate change mean for our trees and forests?

Due to climate change, the periods without rain are getting longer, causing the soil to dry out. As a result, the trees also become too dry. If a tree is too dry, it shows this through various symptoms Drought stress. These include themselves curving, discoloring and falling leaves or bursting bark. All of this is linked to what is known as drought stress.

Trees also store moisture in the leaves. But when the memory is used up, the tree sheds its leaves prematurely, which can lead to tree death.

Especially in 2020 it rained very little due to climate change. In many regions only 10% or less of normal precipitation. The amount of precipitation per square meter is decisive for how high the groundwater level is. The less it rains, the deeper the mirror sinks. Then it is sometimes no longer possible for the roots of larger and older trees to reach the sinking groundwater.

What can you do to help the trees?

In any case, with your active watering support, you can save a tree that has been stressed by drought and is showing the first symptoms.

Every drop that reaches the tree can be stored by it and used to supply us with CO2.

Thus, the drought stress in trees can be prevented and with a good deed you ensure our good climate through the valuable trees.

It is important that the water is poured close to the tree and has the opportunity to slowly seep in there. The area of ​​the tree grate can be formed into a pouring ring by pushing earth outwards and then always filled with about 10-20 liters up to the top edge.

Another solution is the tree watering bag. This has a capacity of 75 liters and releases the content directly into the bottom of the area around the tree grate. The water is then delivered evenly, drop by drop, to the roots in about 9 hours. This has the advantage that the water absorption is supported by a long-lasting moist soil.

The tree is given a tree bath, so to speak, which supplies it with water beyond the irrigation time. We have put together a lot of tips for the various irrigation methods to support the trees and save resources, because water is also a resource that is affected by climate change. Here you will find everything you need to know to water trees properly.

With normal watering, the water often seeps away so quickly that the roots can only absorb very little water.

And you know what? Many trees are rooted together underground. A tree bag often not only waters one tree, but also quenches the thirst of several trees.

If you can't actively water yourself, there is too Tree sponsorships.

As you can see, climate change is a multi-faceted topic that not everyone is aware of. Above all, nature and our precious trees also suffer. But we can all contribute to climate protection together by giving our trees a refreshing bath through tree bags.

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