The science is clear:

In rural New Jersey, a family-run supermarket takes a bold step towards environmental sustainability by choosing a natural refrigerant cooling system over conventional, climate-damaging alternatives. The CO2 refrigerant rack system installed is boasts near-zero emissions and displaces traditional refrigerants notorious for causing 3,448 times more environmental damage. The switch results in an immediate and permanent reduction of cooling emissions by nearly 99%. Beyond emission reduction, the CO2 system also circumvents the use of dangerous chemicals that could get into groundwater, a critical concern for a community previously affected by a historical EPA Superfund site.

In Southwestern Alaska, the Kootznoowoo project, managed by native Haida and Tlingit peoples, covers 8,000 hectares of old hemlock and spruce forests. Historically dependent on timber, these communities face ecological degradation, exacerbated by the high cost of diesel for heating. Initiated in 2018 under the American Carbon Registry’s Improved Forest Management methodology, the project secures funding through carbon credit sales. The income provides an alternative to timber harvesting, preserving the ecosystem, and enhancing tree quality and lifespan.

In Oregon, the Douglas County Forest Products (DCFP) project employs pyrolysis to create biochar, an organic, carbon-rich material stable for 10,000 years. Following the Puro.earth methodology, DCFP’s production facility utilizes lumber mill waste like sawdust and wood shavings that is powered by a biomass-fired boiler. The produced biochar improves soil nutrient absorption and acts as a fertilizer alternative. By preventing the burning of waste products, the project captures almost 11% of energy waste.