Can planting trees really help achieve the scale of change needed?
UK Government targets presented in the UK’s carbon budgets are to reduce GHG emissions 34% by 2020, based on 1990 levels. There is a longer term commitment to reduce GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions 80% by 2050, based on 1990 levels. Ideally these changes will be made by reducing our direct emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. It is estimated that if we plant an additional 15,000 hectares per year on top of the current planting rate of 8,000 hectares per year, then by 2050 these woodlands, together with those already planted since 1990, could be sequestering an amount of CO2 equivalent to 10% of GHG emissions, assuming the target above is met. So if we plant trees now, they will be compensating for a small but significant proportion of our emissions by 2050.
