The City of Montreal has goals to plant 500 thousand trees by 2030 in an effort to combat climate change. Trees are an essential part of our ecosystem, as they provide cooling to our environment, especially important as temperatures climb amidst drastic changes in our climate. Trees also capture carbon in the air.

Carly Ziter, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Concordia University spoke with Local 514 host Savanna Craig about the role of trees in Montreal's environment and ability to capture carbon. 

Ziter said when we think of green spaces in Montreal, we think of parks and backyards. She said they have the ability to reduce heatwaves in the summer, and improve air quality.

She said that Montreal's goal to plant a 500 thousand trees and reduce carbon emissions by 55% by 2030 is attainable, but it will take work and change. She said it also may cause resistance, particularly to reduce emissions.

We're seeing effects of climate change – we're seeing wildfires, said Ziter. She added that these should be warning signs to people that we should reduce emissions.

"Planting trees great," said Ziter. "On its own, it's not enough"

She said that we can't plant our way out of climate change and its impacts and that we need to think about retaining mature trees in our cities. She said planting new trees is great, but mature trees – which are larger – are able to sequester more CO2.

"It takes decades to get the benefits of trees," said Ziter, adding that she like to see as much attention in protecting the trees we have now.