It's that time of year again when many Americans visit their local tree stand to pick up a pine tree to install in their living room for a few weeks until it dies. Others find and pull a drop of plastic in the shape of a tree from storage. Whether plastic or organic, once adorned with ornaments, lights and tinsel, a Christmas tree is not only the focal point of Christmas morning, but of the holiday season as well. However, such trees can also become a source of stress, as the reality of climate change becomes more acute and tangible. Many might wonder: is it really a good idea to buy a cut down tree to stick in my living room for a month while atmospheric CO2 is rising at an unprecedented rate , the fires are burning stronger than before a rising sea levels flooding our coastal cities? (NICOLE KARLIS)