It’s that time of year again! This week, we’ll be saying our goodbyes to 2015 and welcoming in the new year. This calls for a time to reflect, to set new goals, to declare aspirations and to let go of things from this past year that no longer serve us.

I love this time of year because it feels like a fresh start and a chance to have a clean slate. An opportunity to hit the restart button and work towards being my best self. I don't know about you, but aside from setting personal goals of self-improvement, I also like to set a goal that is bigger than myself. So this year, my New Year’s Resolution is to start the year off carbon neutral.   

What do I mean by that??

A carbon footprint is defined as “the amount of greenhouse gases and especially carbon dioxide (CO2) given off by something (as a person's activities) during a given period.” AKA, the result of everyday human activities like driving a car, heating your house, buying food, the production of the food you buy, etc etc.

The average American has a carbon footprint of about 20 tonnes of CO2 a year. We all have an impact on the environment and we all have a shared responsibility to do our part to protect the planet.

So what can we do to leave 2015 behind with a carbon neutral footprint? Well, since deforestation (the cutting down of forests) is one of the leading causes of climate change and the second largest source of CO2 emissions being released into our atmosphere, the answer is simple: keep our forests standing.

It’s easy as a few clicks!

Step one: Calculate your carbon footprint.  

Step two: Buy a Stand For Trees Certificate — a unique, high-quality, verified carbon credit that protects a specific endangered forest and offsets one tonne of CO2 from entering the earth's atmosphere. Because of your purchase, forests are left standing to do what they do best — store carbon, produce oxygen, provide habitat, and support local communities.

Step three: Share your participation with friends and family on Facebook and Twitter — through our collective action, we change the economics of deforestation, do something meaningful to curb climate change, and support life on earth. Trees stand for us, it's time to stand for trees!