Carbon Capture
A real-world solution that could make us carbon neutral
It is estimated that the average UK citizen emits 14 to 19 tons of CO2 every year; therefore, we can expect to emit a grand total of approximately 1,100 to 1,500 tons of CO2 over an average lifetime of say 80 years.
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; so if each UK citizen plants 1,500 trees – we would all be carbon neutral.
Assuming our new trees are spaced 2m to 3m apart, we can plant approximately 750-1,000 trees per acre; so we would each need approximately 1.5-2 acres of existing farmland to plant our new trees on.
The costs of carbon capture include the land purchase, the stripling trees, the tree planting, tree-protection and woodland maintenance for 50 years. Even with the high cost of farmland in the UK, total cost could equate to say £10/tree, or £15,000 for 1,500 trees – a small price to pay to enable someone to be carbon neutral?
The experience gained through our own personal carbon capture project at Fourways Woodland Farm in Devon will enable us to calculate these costs accurately so that in the future we can offer the opportunity to others to capture some, or all, of their own carbon footprint. Watch this space!
CONTACT
Falcan
@falcan