It is estimated that the average UK citizen emits 14 to 19 tons of CO2 every year; therefore, we can expect to emit approximately 1,100 to 1,500 tons of CO2 over an average lifetime of, say, 80 years.

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In the UK, native broadleaf trees are very effective at capturing carbon; it is estimated that the average tree captures approximately 1 ton of carbon over a 50-year lifespan. Based on this, if each UK citizen plants 1,500 trees, we would all be carbon neutral.

 

Assuming a new tree needs to be spaced 2m to 3m apart, you can plant approximately 750-1,000 trees per acre; so we would each need approximately 1.5-2 acres of land to plant enough trees to become carbon neutral.

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The costs of carbon capture include land purchase, tree planting, tree protection, and woodland maintenance for 50 years.  Even with the high cost of farmland in the UK, the total cost could equate to say £10/tree, or £15,000 for 1,500 trees – a relatively small price to pay to become carbon neutral.