Ecologist Thomas Crowther’s research inspired countless tree-planting campaigns, greenwashing, and attacks from scientists. Now he’s back with a new plan for nature restoration.
“This highlights global tree restoration as our most effective climate change solution to date,” the study said. Crowther subsequently gave dozens of interviews to that effect.
Crowther, who says his message was misinterpreted
I can’t be assed to listen to a podcast right now, and the article didn’t really say anything about it but now I’m just curious if he ever bothered to correct it in those “dozens of interviews” he gave. You’d think that after the 12th interview it would be hard to misinterpret a message unless your original message didn’t have that correct interpretation to begin with.
His message wasn’t misinterpreted, he just didn’t realize the actual problem.
It gave people an excuse to keep generating CO2. So instead of slowing the generation of CO2 people just pushed the problem off as “we’ll plant more trees and that solves it!”
To add, many people did have the right of it, but they weren’t given platforms because they weren’t saying what powerful people wanted others to hear. This guy’s message was boosted because it provided cover for the continued generation of CO2. It’s not the case that if this one particular guy didn’t make a mistake then we wouldn’t have wasted time on this false corridor. At least one scientist will make this mistake or a mistake like this, it is an inevitably. In that hypothetical universe the only difference is we’d be hearing from that person instead of this one.
I can’t be assed to listen to a podcast right now, and the article didn’t really say anything about it but now I’m just curious if he ever bothered to correct it in those “dozens of interviews” he gave. You’d think that after the 12th interview it would be hard to misinterpret a message unless your original message didn’t have that correct interpretation to begin with.
As Track said between their two comments.
His message wasn’t misinterpreted, he just didn’t realize the actual problem.
It gave people an excuse to keep generating CO2. So instead of slowing the generation of CO2 people just pushed the problem off as “we’ll plant more trees and that solves it!”
To add, many people did have the right of it, but they weren’t given platforms because they weren’t saying what powerful people wanted others to hear. This guy’s message was boosted because it provided cover for the continued generation of CO2. It’s not the case that if this one particular guy didn’t make a mistake then we wouldn’t have wasted time on this false corridor. At least one scientist will make this mistake or a mistake like this, it is an inevitably. In that hypothetical universe the only difference is we’d be hearing from that person instead of this one.
Oh I’m sure it was no accident. He believed he had solved the world’s problems, but forgot to carry the 1. Now he’s back tracking