Thread by @CharlieJGardner

This amazing figure from yesterday's #IPCC report shows the potential of different approaches to mitigate climate change

It exposes two common misconceptions about 'natural climate solutions'
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First, BECCS (growing trees or logging forests to burn for energy) has very limited potential compared to solar and wind

Since it also destroys nature and competes for land with food, it is bad news. Burning trees is not a climate solution
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Second, protecting existing forests is more important than planting trees

A forest of mature trees is also an irreplaceable community of beings that provides essential services, while a plantation of saplings is not
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And here's another key finding - conserving remaining ecosystems has more mitigation potential than wind power, and almost as much as solar

Given everything else ecosystems do for us beyond climate mitigation, their conservation should be an absolute global priority
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