Government Official States Ottawa’s Plan to Plant 2 Billion Trees Will Require Decades to Generate Emissions Benefits

May 29, 2024 TruthUSA

Ottawa’s strategy to address emissions by planting two billion trees is expected to take several decades to yield results, according to a government official.

During a testimony to the Senate national finance committee on May 21, Glenn Hargrove, assistant deputy minister for Natural Resources Canada, stated, “We had initial projections and we continue to fine-tune those. The significant reductions in emissions are projected towards 2050 rather than in the immediate future,” he explained, noting that younger trees absorb less carbon compared to mature trees.

“It’s similar to human development. Babies consume less food than teenagers,” Mr. Hargrove analogized, as reported by Blacklock’s Reporter. “Once those trees start to grow, that’s when they really begin to absorb that carbon. It will take some time before we start seeing results.”

The 2 Billion Trees (2BT) plan was a pledge made by the Liberal Party during the 2019 election campaign, aiming to have the trees planted within a decade.

Mr. Hargrove informed the committee that only 553 million trees have been planted so far, including seedlings slated for planting during the upcoming summer.

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“This is a significant endeavor as you are aware,” Mr. Hargrove emphasized. “It’s a marathon rather than a sprint. It entails a 40 percent increase in tree planting across Canada over a decade. We have been enhancing the supply chain.”

The deputy minister did not specify a completion date for the project.

“I cannot provide an exact timeline for when the two billion trees will be planted, but we are making substantial progress,” he remarked. “We recognize the need for a gradual scale-up.”

The initiative was expected to achieve its target by 2031, at a cost of $3.2 billion, allocated to provinces, territories, and organizations engaged in tree planting.

As per the 2BT website, the program forms part of Ottawa’s strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

“To optimize benefits for Canadians, it’s essential to plant the right trees in the appropriate locations and monitor their survival,” the webpage states, highlighting advantages such as habitat restoration, enhanced biodiversity, cleaner air and water, job creation, cooler cities, and improved well-being for future generations.

Since 2021, the program has supported 179 tree-planting initiatives, as indicated in a September 2023 news release. Over 220 tree species were reportedly planted at 2,900 sites across the region.

In an April 2023 report by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Jerry DeMarco, doubts were raised about the success of the program.

“Natural Resources Canada is unlikely to meet its 2 billion tree planting target or achieve anticipated emission reductions without significant modifications,” stated a release from the Auditor General’s Office citing.

While Natural Resources reached its tree planting goal in 2021, it lagged behind in 2022, the report indicated.

“Challenges in finalizing agreements have not only impeded Natural Resources Canada’s ability to meet the projected tree planting for 2022 but also raise concerns for future years, which have more ambitious planting targets,” the report highlighted.

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