– Becoming climate positive

As a Guardian of the Earth, I am well aware of our planet’s challenges.

Many of you ask: “How can I truly offset my own CO₂ footprint?” Today, I’d like to show you how many trees – especially fast-growing Paulownia – would be necessary, and why this alone may not be the whole solution.

1. CO₂ Balance per Person vs. Paulownia Compensation

Average CO₂ footprint:

• Global: 4.8 tons CO₂ per person per year (Worldometer CO₂ data)
• Europe (e.g., Germany): ~8 tons CO₂ per person per year
• USA: up to 14.2 tons CO₂ per person per year

CO₂ absorption by a Paulownia tree:

• Conservative estimate: 50 kg CO₂ per tree per year (varies by age, site, and care, but on average, plantation-grown Paulownia can bind about 35–50 kg per year; mature trees or ideal conditions may yield even higher values).
• Agroforestry systems can reach up to 40 tons CO₂/hectare/year (about 35 kg/tree/year for 1,100 trees per hectare). For our calculation, we will use 50 kg per tree per year.

Calculation for an 8-ton footprint:

8,000 kg CO²   50 kg/tree = 160 trees per person per year

2. Practical Aspects: Effort and Cost

Land requirements:
• Paulownia requires: 10–15 m² per tree (for 160 trees: 1,600–2,400 m² = 0.16–0.24 ha).
• Alternative: Agroforestry systems with denser planting (e.g., 400 trees/ha = 0.4 ha for 160 trees).

Labor requirements:
• Planting: approx. 2–3 hours for 160 trees (with mechanical assistance).
• Irrigation: 20–50 liters/week per tree in the first year (for 160 trees: up to 8,000 liters/week!).
• Maintenance: Annual pruning, fertilization (1–2 hours/tree/year, i.e., 160–320 hours/year).

Costs (per person/year):
• Tree seedlings: 160 × $10 = $1,600 (at $10/tree).
• Irrigation: 160 × 20 liters/week × 26 weeks ≈ 83,200 liters of water.
• Working time: approx. 160–320 hours (without mechanization).

Conclusion:

Planting 160 trees per year per person is hardly feasible for individuals – neither financially nor in terms of time.

3. Realistic Solutions for Individuals

• CO₂ reduction: Save energy, use green energy, eat less meat, prefer cycling/public transport. This can reduce your footprint by 30–50% and lower the number of trees needed.
• Compensation: Plant 10–20 Paulownia trees/year (500–1,000 kg CO₂/year offset). Offset the rest via certified climate projects (e.g., forest conservation, renewables).

Recommendation

A pure Paulownia offset for a private person’s CO₂ footprint is hardly practical – 160 trees per year is simply too much. More promising is a combination of

• Daily CO₂ reduction
• Local agroforestry: plant 10–20 trees/year

Author: Francesco del Orbe 🌍