You may be worried about the consequences of pollution and climate change and wondering what to do to improve the situation.
Most of us are well aware of the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Although some politicians and entrepreneurs take concrete action to improve the quality of our environment, unfortunately, economic growth is still the top priority of many governments and industries.
On the other hand, some rely on artificial intelligence and other technologies to solve the problems humanity is facing. Although they have some utility, it is doubtful that these are as promising avenues as it is believed ...
Why not rather rely on a technology cleverly developed and improved by nature for more than 3.5 billion years? In my opinion, plants are the best resource for meeting the immense environmental challenges of today and tomorrow.
Completely renewable and available for free for at least 1 billion years, solar energy is the basis of plant functioning. Indeed, during the photosynthesis process, plants absorb water and carbon dioxide that they convert into sugars through solar energy, and they then release oxygen in the atmosphere. Some scientists have estimated that all the earth's plants, including ocean phytoplankton, absorb a little more than 100 billion tons of carbon dioxide every year!
In fact, all that we are and do in our lives, we owe it to plants, firstly because we ingest them daily when we eat and because our homes as well as the majority of objects they contain, including clothing we wear, are made from plants. Without plants, there would also be no roads, buildings and other infrastructure since they are the basis of asphalt and concrete fabrication.
In addition to being air filters and powerful soil and water cleaners, plants help fight heat island effect, reduce the speed and impact of winds, prevent soil erosion and capture rainwater thus avoiding flooding. Several scientific studies have shown that plants allow humans to have a better physical and mental health. As surprising as it may seem, plants also allow us to be happier and smarter!
In the current environmental context, in order to find a more harmonious link with the earth, it seems necessary for each to better understand and appreciate the functioning of nature and plants.
On this Earth Day, I encourage you to plant a tree, to practice urban agriculture or to grow flowers. Whether they are edible or depolluting, growing plants is certainly a great way to avoid many troubles and torments.
Long live to plants! Thanks to them, we can change the world!