The government official, Glenn Hargrove, stated that Ottawa’s plan to combat emissions by planting two billion trees will take decades to show results. He mentioned that the major emissions reductions will be seen around 2050, as younger trees absorb less carbon compared to mature trees.
Mr. Hargrove compared tree growth to human development, stating that like babies consume less food than teenagers, young trees absorb less carbon. He emphasized that once the trees mature, they will significantly contribute to carbon absorption.
The 2 Billion Trees (2BT) plan, a promise made by the Liberal Party in the 2019 election, aimed to have the trees planted within 10 years. However, Mr. Hargrove informed the committee that only 553 million trees have been planted so far.
He described the initiative as a marathon rather than a sprint, highlighting the 40 percent increase in tree planting across Canada over a decade. The completion date for the project was not specified, but Mr. Hargrove expressed confidence in the progress being made.
The program, expected to reach its goal by 2031 at a cost of $3.2 billion, is part of Ottawa’s strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The program aims to plant the right trees in the right locations to maximize benefits such as habitat restoration, increased biodiversity, cleaner air and water, job creation, and overall well-being enhancement for Canadians.
Despite some challenges highlighted in a report by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, the program has supported numerous tree-planting projects since 2021. The report suggested that significant changes are needed for Natural Resources Canada to achieve its tree planting objectives and expected emission reductions.
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