Covering an entire continent with forests: the impossible offsetting of fossil fuels by planting trees

Scientists keep repeating it: the priority in combating climate change must be to reduce greenhouse gas emissions rather than focusing on ways to absorb CO2 _once it is in the atmosphere. A study published Thursday, June 19 This is a point that comes just hours after a group of climate scientists announced that the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C was no longer achievable . It demonstrates the "insurmountable challenges" that fossil fuel companies would face if they had to offset their future _CO2 emissions, for example by planting trees.

Published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment , the work takes as its starting point the known reserves of coal, oil, and gas from the 200 largest fossil fuel companies. According to the Fossil Free Funds database, burning them would generate 673 billion tons of _CO2, far more than the remaining carbon budget needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C (130 billion tons).

You have 80.09% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.