Trees, fighters of climate change, are also victims of it
Climate change is coming for our neighbors, the trees.
Intense heat and rainfall can stress and kill towering native conifers as well as species we’ve imported for their color and grace. As they suffer, city dwellers suffer. Because trees help humans cope with climate change.
Trees — especially big ones — capture and store carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases driving human-caused climate change. Leaves trap particulates from fires and vehicle exhaust. Roots intercept stormwater. Trees release cooling water vapor and offer shade. They provide respite during extreme heat waves, which kill more Americans than any other weather event.
If you have a yard with a big maple, you’re less likely to need air conditioning. But as Snohomish County’s population surges, more people are living in multifamily buildings or houses on small lots. That’s a boon for A/C companies and a bummer for towering trees.
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/trees-fighters-of-climate-change-are-also-victims-of-it/
