You need to plant 12 trees to offset the CO2 that you exhale

Planting trees is often championed as a solution to climate change, but while helpful, it’s not the ultimate fix. Currently, Earth has about 3 trillion trees—only half the number from 12,000 years ago. Around 15 billion trees are cut down annually, contributing to the climate crisis.

If each of the nearly 8 billion people alive today planted one tree every year for 20 years, we’d grow about 160 billion trees. Let’s say every tree absorbs roughly 50 pounds of CO₂ annually. Even then, it wouldn’t be enough. For example, a person in the U.S. produces about 15.5 tons of CO₂ per year, so 20 trees would offset only a small portion of that. But for someone in India, where per-person emissions are much lower, it would make a bigger impact.

Planting is only part of the equation. Protecting existing forests is crucial. Trees not only capture carbon but also support biodiversity, provide shade in cities, and offer resources like fruit and firewood. Still, planting should be strategic—trees shouldn’t be added to natural grasslands or savannas that already store carbon and support unique ecosystems.

The bigger priority?** Reducing fossil fuel use. Switching to clean energy, driving and flying less, and eating less meat can all cut emissions more significantly. Collective effort—from individuals to governments—is vital. Small actions, like volunteering locally or choosing eco-friendlier transport, add up.

Source: weforum.org