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Offsetting global fossil fuel stores by planting trees is impossible (www.newscientist.com)
submitted 5 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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It would be nearly impossible to plant enough trees to compensate for the climate impact of burning through the world’s fossil fuel reserves. Offsetting the estimated 182 billion tonnes of carbon held in the reserves of the world’s largest fossil fuel companies would require covering more land with trees than the entirety of North and Central America.

“There simply isn’t enough land available for the level of afforestation that would be needed to offset fossil fuel-related emissions,”

The study: Carbon offsetting of fossil fuel emissions through afforestation is limited by financial viability and spatial requirements

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[-] [email protected] 10 points 5 days ago

Offsetting the estimated 182 billion tonnes of carbon held in the reserves of the world’s largest fossil fuel companies would require covering more land with trees than the entirety of North and Central America.

I am on board with this. We can live Ewok-style. I can’t solve for the farming problem though.

[-] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Actually, we would be fine if we just stopped eating as much meat. I don’t remember the exact amount, but getting our protein from animals requires many times the acreage compared to getting our protein from plants.

this post was submitted on 21 Jun 2025
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