Does burning wood release all of the carbon a tree has captured in its lifetime? Does a dead decomposing tree do the same?

Question

Anytime carbon capture comes up, the conversation devolves into commenters saying the entire idea is dumb and trees already exist. I’d like to know more about the full life cycle of a tree and if the carbon it captures is permanent.

In: 199

Answer 1

It depends. Carbon exchanges look at these factors. If a tree has a long, healthy life its a net reduction in carbon emissions. Simply planting a tree misses the point that your raising though, that, in addition to the minuses, trees have a carbon addition at death. This the carbon exchange consumer should be savvy.