The most effective way to fight global warming is to plant lots of trees – one trillion of them, maybe more, a study says.

And there’s enough room, Swiss scientists say. Even with existing cities and farmland, there’s enough space for new trees to cover nine million square kilometers, they reported in Thursday’s journal Science. That area is roughly the size of the United States.

The study calculated that over the decades, those new trees could suck up nearly 750 billion tonnes of heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. That’s about as much carbon pollution as humans have spewed in the past 25 years.

“This is by far – by thousands of times – the cheapest climate change solution” and the most effective, said study co-author Tom Green, a climate change ecologist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

Six nations with the most room for new trees …

All around the world, people are gearing up for Earth Day. Started in 1970, this designated day of April 22 has become an annual reminder of our responsibility to be good stewards of the Earth. You can contribute to a healthier Earth in multiple ways: plant a garden, pick up trash, purchase biodegradable products, and commit to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Tree of Life

Planting trees is one of the easiest and most sustainable ways to positively affect the environment. We need trees now more than ever! Communities across the state have been devastated with the loss of tens of millions of ash trees since the emerald ash borer was first discovered in metro Detroit in 2002. Trees are our lifeline to cleaner air and a healthier environment.

Here’s how trees make a difference:

1. Trees improve air quality by producing oxygen. They also store carbon, offsetting harmful byproducts