Image: Gardening Know How
Apparently, even if we are to believe that CO2 in the atmosphere is a problem, apparently a solution is on hand already. It is called empress tree, a species of tree native to Southeast Asia and present in many other parts of the world as an invasive species. Enough of these trees could remove pretty much as much carbon from the air as we need.
So what is special about this tree? It is not only one of the fastest growing plants - up to 15 ft (4.5 m) in the first year - they are also incredible consumers of carbon. While an acre of most trees can absorb between 1.1 and 9 tons of carbon a year, an acre of empress trees can absorb 103 metric tons.
Empress tree is also easy to grow and quite resilient which explains its success as an invasive species. So it may be an easy solution to excess atmospheric carbon, should that become an issue.
Additional reading
We Already Have the World’s Most Efficient Carbon Capture Technology
Emily Chasan, Bloomberg, 2 August 2019
Royal Empress Tree: World’s Fastest Growing Shade Tree
Sandra O'Hare, Gardening Know How, 30 April 2019
10 Carbon-Storing Trees and How to Plant Them
Robin Jacobs, EarthEasy, 29 January 2014