Climate reporter complains that house plants can increase carbon emissions
"Nicolas Rivero, who works as a “climate change reporter” at the legacy media outlet and is associated with the Society of Environmental Journalists, asserted that houseplants ordered from non-local sources can increase emissions due to transportation and other factors.
“There are plenty of benefits to raising indoor houseplants,” Rivero wrote. “But, ironically, greening indoor spaces can also come at an environmental cost. The trucks that transport plants spew carbon emissions, plastic pots and synthetic fertilizers are made from petroleum, and the harvesting of soil components like peat can tear up slow-forming habitats.”
Rivero asserted that consumers should refrain from ordering plants grown at commercial suppliers in Florida and California, participate in local plant swaps, buy biodegradable pots and durable tools, use sustainable soils, and avoid petroleum-based fertilizers.
“One of the least sustainable soil components is peat, a rich brown substance formed from partially decayed plant matter at the bottom of bogs and other wetlands. Gardening guides recommend using peat as part of the soil mix for many plants because it retains water and adds structure to the soil,” he advised. “But peat, which is a precursor to the formation of coal, releases carbon dioxide when it is harvested, and it’s not easily renewable.”
The article from The Washington Post, which provoked criticism from Fox Business and various conservative commentators, comes as legacy media outlets rapidly increase the extent to which they cover purported climate change. One analysis from the United Nations found that global media coverage of climate stories across fifty-nine countries increased from roughly 47,000 articles between 2016 and 2017 to some 87,000 articles between 2020 and 2021."
“There are plenty of benefits to raising indoor houseplants,” Rivero wrote. “But, ironically, greening indoor spaces can also come at an environmental cost. The trucks that transport plants spew carbon emissions, plastic pots and synthetic fertilizers are made from petroleum, and the harvesting of soil components like peat can tear up slow-forming habitats.”
Rivero asserted that consumers should refrain from ordering plants grown at commercial suppliers in Florida and California, participate in local plant swaps, buy biodegradable pots and durable tools, use sustainable soils, and avoid petroleum-based fertilizers.
“One of the least sustainable soil components is peat, a rich brown substance formed from partially decayed plant matter at the bottom of bogs and other wetlands. Gardening guides recommend using peat as part of the soil mix for many plants because it retains water and adds structure to the soil,” he advised. “But peat, which is a precursor to the formation of coal, releases carbon dioxide when it is harvested, and it’s not easily renewable.”
The article from The Washington Post, which provoked criticism from Fox Business and various conservative commentators, comes as legacy media outlets rapidly increase the extent to which they cover purported climate change. One analysis from the United Nations found that global media coverage of climate stories across fifty-nine countries increased from roughly 47,000 articles between 2016 and 2017 to some 87,000 articles between 2020 and 2021."
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