Think of global environmental problems in the 21st century, and global warming will likely top the list. It’s something we hear about nearly every day, yet we don’t have a stable solution for.

There are ideas though. Take trees, a major life force for the planet, providing shelter and food for up to 90% of terrestrial species, oxygen for humanity, and support for most of the world’s natural systems.

Yet according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), 13 million hectares of forest, an area the size of Greece, are uprooted every year, and only 20% of the world’s forests remain intact.

As trees are lost, carbon is emitted into the atmosphere; deforestation contributes more emissions per year than the entire transport sector.

Though deforestation is global in nature, it is especially drastic in many parts of Africa. For Wangari Maathai, a native Kenyan and Nobel Peace Prize winner, the problem of deforestation sparked a bright idea in her.

Recognizing that women in her community didn’t have firewood, water or a voice to take action, she founded the Green Belt Movement, building on the idea that a single grassroots action can have widespread global effects.

The simple act of planting a tree, and recognition of the linkage between environment, democracy, and peace, soon spread like wildfire across the globe, empowering other communities to protect their local environments and speak up for change.

In the fight for environmental protection, we can’t sit idly; take action now and start Talking Climate Change.

"It is the people who must save the environment. It is the people who must make their leaders change. And we cannot be intimidated. So we must stand up for what we believe in." -Wangari Maathai

Take Action

1. SPEAK UP

• Protect an acre of forest with Conservation International

• Gather your friends and neighbours, and plant tree with UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign or start by planting a seed with WWF

• Join Tck Tck Tck to show you’re ready and ask your friends to speak up on climate change

• Sow a seed in your Environment Minister, and share it’s progress with your network of friends

2. SOCIAL MEDIA

• Follow tck tck tck or Ontario’s Greenbelt on Twitter
• Become a fan of the Green Belt Movement on Facebook

3. SIGN ON

• Pledge to cut your emissions by 10% with 10:10
• Pledge to plant a tree with UNEP
• Donate to the Green Belt Movement to help spread their reforestation efforts.

Leave a comment here and on Wangari’s webisode with your thoughts and ideas on youth action for positive change!

4. SPREAD THE WORD

• Tell 10 friends that 13 million hectares of forest, an area the size of Greece, are uprooted every year, and that this deforestation contributes more emissions per year than the entire transport sector.

Remember – in the battle to save the planet, it’s time to speak up: Share stories of speaking up for change, by entering  our contest, and you’ll be eligible to win a prize, including being featured on TV as our next GreenHero! Contest details and more information can be found here.