What if planting trees at certain latitudes does more harm than good? In the Arctic, this well-meaning initiative could turn into a climate nightmare. Here’s why.
Planting trees is often presented as a simple and effective solution to reduce CO2 emissions. But in the Arctic, this well-intentioned idea could worsen the climate crisis. A recent study published in Nature Geoscience reveals a paradox: in these regions, planting trees warms the planet more than it cools it.
An ecosystem dominated by « white » In polar areas, snow and ice cover the ground for much of the year. These white surfaces reflect about 75% of the solar energy that reaches them, a phenomenon known as « albedo. » This ability to send light back into space helps keep these regions at low temperatures.
Source: tometeo