Carbon dioxide removal via direct air capture and storage is a complementary approach to planting trees. It is highly scalable as it requires only a small physical footprint and it is fully measurable and permanent.
If done well, afforestation comes with several important benefits such as reduced soil erosion and increased biodiversity.
However,
• A tree can only store CO2 over its lifetime (about 100 years in average)
• Human impact on climate and policy on forest have led to droughts, wildfires and deforestation that have affected the reliability and durability of the storage in trees and forests
• Afforestation cannot be scaled to the required levels because it requires lots of water and surface area
To maximize our chances of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, we need all solutions working together - both nature-based and technological solutions.
Learn more about direct air capture here: https://climeworks.com/direct-air-capture.