Monoculture tree plantations are *not* forests. They do not harbor biodiversity, and they are far more susceptible to drought, fire, and pest infestation than are actual, natural forests. 


So when advocates for “Green Growth” promise we can keep the economy going by planting trees to capture carbon and maintain a healthy biosphere, do not believe them. It’s a lie. It’s a perpetuation of business as usual.

The best way of using trees to capture carbon is — don’t cut down forests!!

And the best way to reduce carbon in the atmosphere is — stop burning fossil fuels!!

#Environment #Climate #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #ClimateAction #ClimateEmergency #CO2 #Biodiversity #Greenwashing

@breadandcircuses

Indeed the only thing that will save us from global warming is reducing the use of fossil fuels.

However, mature forests do not capture CO2; they just hold a big stock of carbon, but are basically zero emitters or absorbers.

AFAIK the only CO2 capture method that _could_ make economic sense is to plant crops, harvest the commercial parts, roast the residues, and bury them.

The crops could be well-mixed -- timber trees, produce, oils, cotton -- and include non-crop species.

@JorgeStolfi @breadandcircuses A company I used to work for, CarbonScape, converts wood waste to bio-graphite using renewable electricity. It's to be used in Li ion batteries but could make any form of non degradable carbon.

@CooperJ @breadandcircuses

Good, but that use is minuscule.

Cryptocurency mining alone consumes ~8 GW of electricity, equivalent to a 200-car train of coal every day. This is what a 150-car train looks like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECfgeXZbGJE&t=84s

This Is What Happens When You Stand Too Close To A Coal Train On A Windy Day! Coal Spills On Me!

YouTube
@breadandcircuses monoculture plantations AKA tree factories 😢 It’s all about the bottom line, increasing “productivity” (whatever the hell that it is), extracting maximum profit
@breadandcircuses the joke is: there is not even enough space to plant all those trees supposed to offset the carbon emissions
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-root-problem-with-climate-pledges-to-plant-trees-theres-not-enough-space-9n8n9fmb3
The root of the problem with climate pledges to plant trees: there’s not enough space

Many companies have promised to offset their carbon emissions by growing new forests. The data on available land suggests they may need an alternative strategy

The Times