While engineers frantically rally to devise efficient carbon capture technologies to assist in our fight against climate change, a simple and effective solution already exists – planting forests.
Studies over the last decade have confirmed reforestation is one of the most efficient ways to capture carbon and halt the rise of global temperatures. One 2019 study found Earth’s ecosystems could support another 2.2 billion acres of forests – about 25% more forest than currently exists. Moreover, results indicated planting half a trillion trees could capture an estimated 205 gigatons of carbon, reducing atmospheric carbon by about 25%.