Conventional landscaping practices—specifically applying synthetic nitrogen fertilizer and using gas powered maintenance equipment—emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases. Climate change is causing floods to become more frequent and extreme, and water quality is impacted by runoff and erosion.

Landscapes can be designed to capture and hold water, which will help urban areas adapt to climate change and protect watersheds. Regenerative landscaping practices can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and drawdown carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere. ReScape landscapes maximize permeable surfaces and minimize stormwater runoff, use Integrated Pest Management strategies, minimize the use of synthetic pesticides and avoid overuse of fertilizers. Fossil fuel consumption is also reduced, and trees are planted to remove CO2 and absorb air pollutants.

About the Climate Change 8 Principles Webinar Speaker Series:
ReScape and PG&E are partnering to offer eight Speaker Series webinars about landscaping practices that address climate change, with a focus on carbon sequestration.  This Speaker Series is a part of ReScape’s Climate Change Consortium Demonstration Projects to educate about climate change landscaping challenges and the solutions available using regenerative practices.

The webinars will provide information about reducing emissions and creating resilient landscapes. Up to 30% of urban water use goes to landscaping. We know that climate change will continue to stress water supplies throughout California and the US. Conventional landscape construction and maintenance practices contribute to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and air pollution.

Regenerative design install and maintenance of a landscape can help save energy and water. Sustainably well-designed landscapes not only add beauty to the environment, but also reduce heating and cooling costs. Awareness of the right drought-resistant plants located in the right location- trees, shrubs, or vines- deliver effective shade and cooling, decrease water usage, act as a windbreak, and reduce energy bills. Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of the energy a typical household uses.

Topics are based on ReScape’s 8 Principles and will provide an overview of the problem and the solution vis-à-vis the Principles. There will be hands-on tips and best practices for sequestering carbon, reducing emissions, saving water and creating resilient landscapes; and include actionable steps with references to science-based data and additional resources. Speakers are professionals, scientists and other experts.  

Register Here