Researchers at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Germany) have found that large-scale efforts to create new forests and restore lost green spaces can slow the pace of climate change. The respective research was published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

The research team ran simulations that showed reforestation could reduce peak and end-of-century temperatures. It would also reduce the period during which global average temperatures exceed the target of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

The researchers used more than 1,200 scenarios for the comprehensive evaluation model. Based on this, experts developed a version that envisages the creation of 595 million hectares of forested areas by 2060, and 935 million hectares by 2100.

Modeling results have shown that ambitious reforestation measures can have a significant impact on the climate.

Specifically, reforestation could reduce mid-century global peak temperatures by 0.08°C, while reducing end-of-century temperatures by 0.2°C, compared to the no-reforestation scenario.

In addition, these measures could reduce by 13 years the period during which global temperatures will exceed the 1.5°C limit.