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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    The Controversy about the Role of Trees in Climate Change

    At the UN's climate summit today in Nairobi, Kofi Annan said there's a "frightening lack of leadership" against global warming. But conflicting reports show how hard it is to know what works and what doesn't.  One study says the world's depleted forests are coming back.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    At the UN's climate summit today in Nairobi, Kofi Annan said there's a "frightening lack of leadership" against global warming. But conflicting reports show how hard it is to know what works and what doesn't. One study says the world's depleted forests are coming back. Forests are regarded as "carbon sinks" that absorb carbon dioxide, one of the major greenhouse gases. Another study says the forests may not absorb much carbon dioxide, despite conventional wisdom. That could have major impact on the multi-billion dollar business of global "carbon trading." We learn more about the controversy over the role of trees in climate change.

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Do the World's Forests Really Help Prevent Global Warming?
    1. 0:00Warrant for Sunni Cleric Could Deepen Rift with Shiite-led Government
    2. 0:00The Controversy about the Role of Trees in Climate ChangeYou’re reading this
    3. 0:00Socialist Edges Toward Becoming France's First Female President
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Frances Anderton

      architecture critic and author

    • KCRW placeholder

      Vanessa Romo

      LA School Report

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Paul Waggoner

      Scientist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

    • KCRW placeholder

      Peter Holmgren

      Chief of Forest Resources Development at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization

    • KCRW placeholder

      William Chameides

      Chief Scientist at Environmental Defense

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Do the World's Forests Really Help Prevent Global Warming?
    1. 0:00Warrant for Sunni Cleric Could Deepen Rift with Shiite-led Government
    2. 0:00The Controversy about the Role of Trees in Climate ChangeYou’re reading this
    3. 0:00Socialist Edges Toward Becoming France's First Female President
    Back to To the Point