Alarm at plan to stash planet-heating CO2 beneath US national forests

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Guardian or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A proposal to allow permanent storage of carbon dioxide beneath US Forest Service land has sparked controversy
•  Critics fear potential risks, including leakage causing harm to people, animals, and forest habitats

🔭 The context: CO2 storage has long been a divisive issue, with proponents arguing that geological CO2 storage is crucial for achieving climate goals, but opponents raising concerns about its safety and environmental impact

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The success of this storage proposal could influence future carbon management strategies and the overall approach to mitigating climate change

⏭️ What's next: The Forest Service is evaluating the feasibility of such storage projects, with implications for land use and forest conservation

💬 One quote: "It's a reversal of historic Forest Service policy that only allows temporary use of Forest Service lands." (Jim Furnish, retired US Forest Service deputy chief)

📈 One stat: The US Forest Service manages about 193 million acres, with potential carbon storage space under approximately 130 million acres of federal​

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