"Regardless of the lexact amount of carbon that can be stored via forest restoration or tree planting, this solution can only delay future warming. [Switzerland scientists') proposal that planting trees could store 205 Gt of carbon is equal to about 20 years of human-induced CO2 emissions at the
current emission rate of about 10 Gt of carbon per year worldwide. Without radical reductions in fossil fuel emissions, forest restoration can only offset
a share of future emissions and has limited potential. The only long-term and sustainable way to stabilize global climate at any temperature is to
reduce human-induced CO2 emissions to zero in the next 30-50 years to meet the targets set in the Paris Climate Agreement." [Friedlingtein et al.,
(2019). Science, 366, eaay8060]
A group of scientists from Oxford, England commented on the Switzerland scientists' work, which is shown in the box above. Which of the following
best summarizes their argument about planting trees to reduce climate change?
a. Planting trees alone will not stop climate change; humans also need to stop burning fossil fuels.
b. Planting trees will eliminate the effects of climate change; it will reduce atmospheric CO2 to pre-industrialization levels.
c. Planting trees does not reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere; trees only release CO2 in the atmosphere.
d. Planting trees would be harmful to humans; it would reduce the amount of land we need to grow the crops we use for food.