“Are we the idiots?” – Bill Gates on Planting Trees

Correction to what I say about trees splitting carbon dioxide: They don't split the molecule, it's rather that they transform it, together with water, into a bigger sugar molecule and release oxygen in that process. The result is the same, but the molecule doesn't have to be split. Sorry about that!

Bill Gates has recently been under fire following an interview in which he said that planting trees won’t save us from climate change. Is he right? Is this just another quote taken out of context? What does the science say? Let’s have a look.

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[coolestdude]

(This is a general statement, forest management is complex and differs greatly depending on your location). As a Forestry professional, many tree planting campaigns seem to be done without any consultation with a forestry professional. Only planting a few species in a naturally mixed forest, planting the wrong native species in the wrong places, lack of care after planting such as invasive species control, and conversion of non forest lands to forest. We also seem to think we have to replant trees when many areas are better left to let trees naturally grow from whatever seed sources are present. The world only seems to care about forests while ignoring almost every other biome. Grasslands and wetlands actually store more carbon than trees and are much more endangered in North America than forests.

[oldretireddude]

If we talk about trees as a part of the solution, it's a good thing. If we talk about trees as the silver bullet answer, it's not a good thing.

[markdowning]

Trees may not be a complete answer, but they do have a lot of advantages.
For instance, a well designed mixed woodland counteracts soil erosion, nutrient leaching and flooding, and is self-renewing - unlike even the most diligently dusted solar panels!
Woodland also has a very positive impact on human wellbeing and mental health.

[williamfarmer]

I live close to the equator and it can get extremely hot and humid, I find that if you have a small group of trees it is so much cooler to stand under them than if you were to stand in the shade of a building.

[PermanentExile]

To “solve” climate change, I’ve gotten rid of my private jet(s), yacht(s), vacation home(s), etc. and now just have a single car and a place to live. I hope Gates will match my devotion to reducing my “carbon footprint.”

[perryseehoe]

Another study found that money can produce any study you want and any outcome you want.

[thomasmoeller]

How about we stop cutting the rain forests down first !

[Arete]

I live in Oregon and even in the wettest Valley where it used to rain daily from Sep to July, there is drought. Many trees in the forests are dying from lack of water. I couldn't plant trees on my property because the ones that are here aren't getting enough water and my well can't support them. I don't even plant flowers because for 9 months I'd have to water them and water is precious. Climate change is terrifying. It's refreshing to hear a logical discussion.

[joeferreti]

Trees alone won't save us from climate change. But trees help over time. And it is certainly a dumb idea to cut down trees without replacing them. And it is certainly the dumbest idea to cut down rainforests, especially the Amazon rainforest.

[russellpurdie]

I've noticed the climate in a forest is much nicer than a parking lot .

[PykoOHD]

The main reasons I want more trees in cities is for the shade they offer if placed in streets. And they look pretty ^^

[donswearingen]

As a Boy Scout about a million years ago, I planted well over a thousand trees over several springs. They're still there.

[bocckoka]

Trees stabilize the weather, make rain patterns more consistent especially further away from large bodies of water. One of the effects of climate change is extreme weather patterns being more common, which forests help mitigate, along with other benefits.

[RunPJs]

I run 4km to work and i have 2 options.
1) run along the busy main road.
2) run on the cycle path, parallel and close to the road, but surrounded by tress, grass and a variety of bushes and green stuff. It's 600m longer.
My route is option 2 almost everytime as it's very much fresher.
Won't save the planet but every tree and any green stuff is definitely beneficial to us individually

[VicfromOregon]

It's not a competition. It's a cooperation. Plant trees and gardens, find cleaner energy sources, consume less while creating a better, fairer economy based upon supporting the life of the planet and not just us.

[Sunweaver]

Our first house had a yard with no trees. Our first summer there was miserably hot and we had no air conditioning so we slept outside on the deck. We then planted about 30 shade and flowering trees, since we both worked at a wholesale nursery and could rescue them from the burn pile. Five years later our yard was at least 10 degrees cooler than outside the yard. The trees on the south side near the house shaded the roof, providing natural “air conditioning”, so no need for a mechanical one. The flowering trees (crabapples, etc.) provided food for birds so we attracted cedar waxwings, finches, tanagers. The lawn under the trees was fertile, with plenty of earthworms and grubs for the robins and towhees. Our desert turned into a paradise. PLANT TREES!

[M.Campbell]

I live in a place that has very hot summers. When I bought my house I planted trees for shade. I knew full well that it would be a long term pay off. It has been fifteen years and I now use much less electricity for cooling my home. Cutting energy consumption is a viable way to not add to the carbon problem.

[fooojin]

Trees are usually planted to be havested again, just as crops. Here in sweden harvesting trees is a major part of our economy, planting trees as we harvest them is just a very sustainable way of forestry.

[maddkatter]

I plant tree's. I like them. Fruits. Nuts. Birds. Cools the yard. Smells good.

[stevemiller]

Trees are not a panacea. Most people know this. Please remember trees provide many more eco-system benefits beyond mitigating climate change.😊😊❤❤