WASHINGTON - Republican lawmakers on Wednesday will propose legislation setting a goal for the United States to plant a trillion trees by 2050 to fight global warming, a plan intended to address climate change by sucking carbon out of the air instead of by cutting emissions.
US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly cast doubt on the science of climate change, had expressed support for the idea of a massive tree-planting campaign during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month. Other elements of the plan, which will be released in additional bills over the coming weeks, will focus on sequestering carbon from power plants, recycling plastics and boosting"clean" energy, including natural gas and nuclear, according to congressional staff.
Environmentalists argue that focusing on planting trees while ignoring emission cuts from fossil fuels is counterproductive. An overwhelming majority of scientists believe emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels are the main driver of climate change.
Trump Legacy: Drilling on Public Lands...& Carbon Emissions Luring companies to pristine lands Trump blows up sacred mountain in SonoranDesert (ecological marvel with profound spiritual significance to NativeAmericans) for his WALL.