
It’s us, hi. We’re the problem. It’s us. Get better at solving problems with free access to Brilliant for 30 days: https://www.brilliant.org/simonclark
Tree planting initiatives! Politicians, activists, and YouTubers love them, but the scientific literature is much more ambivalent. Failure rates are high. Damage is done to the local (and sometimes the global) environment. Is it possible to plant trees and have a positive impact? Absolutely! But there is another, arguably better way…
Justdiggit: https://justdiggit.org/
REFERENCES
1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/rec.12492
2. https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/downloads/Publications/PDFS/WP20001.pdf
3. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/30/most-of-11m-trees-planted-in-turkish-project-may-be-dead
4. https://e360.yale.edu/features/phantom-forests-tree-planting-climate-change
5. https://www.wetlands.org/case-study/mangrove-restoration-to-plant-or-not-to-plant/
6. https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/9/938
7. https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/22679378/tree-planting-forest-restoration-climate-solutions
8. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aba8232
9. https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/local-water-availability-is-permanently-reduced-after-planting-forests
10. https://terravidaacademy.com/the-environmental-perils-of-monoculture-tree-planting-2/
11. https://www.jamhoor.org/read/2018/2/8/marginalized-by-conservation-the-billion-trees-tsunami-project
12. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-46577-1
13. https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/science.aax0848
14. https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/70/11/947/5903754
15. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/forests-and-global-change/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2024.1372409/full
16. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aba8232
PATREON
You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys
———- II ———-
More about me https://www.simonoxfphys.com/
My second channel – https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata
Threads – https://www.threads.net/@simonoxfphys
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys
Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark
———- II ———-
Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic
Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.
Edited by Luke Negus.
When tree planting goes wrong. How can tree planting hurt the climate? Does planting trees help fix climate change? Will Team Trees actually help the climate? In this video I talk through how tree planting initiatives often fail and can damage the local and global environment. Fortunately scientists have worked out guidelines for such projects to follow to make a positive impact.
Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon:
Norm Zemke, David Mann, Ben Thayer, Eric A Gentzler, Glen Monks, Daniel Chen, Gary Stark, dryfrog, Marcus Bosshard, Peter Reid, bitreign33 .
Bastian Pranzas, Lucas Johnston, Jeffry ., Whitefang, Marius Kießling, Jon Arlov, Pawel Piwek, Matze, Artem Plotnikov, Paul H and Linda L, Dan Sherman, Andy Hartley.
Claudia Kapp, Cy ‘kkm’ K’Nelson, Baerbel Winkler, OldGreyWolf, Oscar Hoffmann, Steamrollerman , Andy Parr, Ricky Jones, Guy Markey, Nicholas Hamdorf, Katharina Hartmuth, Mark Phillips, Jor Eero Raico Svederic, KJ Xiao, Martin Sinclair, Matt Beer DFC, Tschäff Reisberg, Tobias Ahsbahs, James Gaskell, Denis Kovachev, Michael Thomas, Victor Gordan, Joona Mäkinen, Tanner , Dominik Rihak, Nico Casal, Laura Glismann, Mark Harper, Ryan, Inten, Tyler Schwartz, John, James Haigh, Rick Kenny, Bailey Cook, Sergio Diaz, Command Chat, Aisolon, Christopher Mullin, I’m stuck in a PhD and I blame Simon., Joseph , Nicklas Kulp, Thomas Newman, Anže Cesar, Josef Probst, Kevin B, Phineas, Ishaan Shah, AngryPanda, Circuitrinos, Mark Richardson, Brian Moss, Hampus Sandell, Thomas Miller, Knut Nesheim, Dajeni, AYS , Forever Bulking, Kim Parnset, Crisan Talpes, Ted CLAY, Mike, Seb Stott, xawt, Diederik Jekel, Fuzzy Leapfrog, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Samat Galimov, Ashley Hauck, Nico, Thibault , GGH, FireFerretDann, Ciotka Cierpienia, Sam, szigyi, Marcin Wrochna, Tom Painter, Phil Saici, Tom Marsh, Ashley Steel, Simone, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Steffan , Adam Gillard, Christopher Hall, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Sylvus , Florian Thie, James Gurney, Eddy Torres, Clemens, Andy Giesen, Jacob Speelman, Robin Anne McDuff, Jean-Marc Giffin, Cifer, Felix Winkler, Christian Weckner, Quinn Sinclair, Ebraheem Farag, Thomas Charbonnel, Sekhalis, Mark Moore, Philipp Legner, Zoey O’Neill, Justin Warren, Heijde, Trevor Berninger, streetlights, Gabriele Siino, David Mccann, Leonard Neamtu, James Leadbetter, Rapssack, Matthew Powell, Adrian Sand, Morten Engsvang, Haris Karimjee, Alex, The Cairene on Caffeine, Cody VanZandt, Casandra “Kalamity Kas” Toledo, Igor Francetic, Daniel Irwin, Sean Richards, Michael B., Thusto , Lachlan Woods, Dan Hanvey, Andrea De Mezzo, Real Engineering.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9k-22Lv9bU
Climate Change Videos
Al Gore just said the quiet part out loud

Watch this video on Nebula ad-free and get 50% an annual subscription at https://go.nebula.tv/simonclark
Now the dust has settled, it’s time to talk about COP30. Good COP? Or bad COP?
You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys
———- II ———-
More about me – https://www.simonoxfphys.com/
My second channel – https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata
My book – https://geni.us/firmament
Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/simonoxfphys.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys
Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark
———- II ———-
Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic
Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.
Edited by Luke Negus.
Research by Ian Campbell.
Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon:
bitreign33 , Dave Teare, Eric A Gentzler, Gary Stark, Glen Monks, Marcus Bosshard.
Andy Hartley, Artem Plotnikov, Bastian Pranzas, Ben Curtis, Jeffry ., Jon Arlov, Marius Kießling, Paul H and Linda L, Peter Reid.
Adam Gillard, Adrian Sand, Alex, Alex Hall, Andrea De Mezzo, Andy Giesen, Andy Parr, Anže Cesar, Ashley Hauck, Ashley Steel, AYS , Baerbel Winkler, Bill Keydel, Brian Moss, Chris Laslett, Christian Weckner, Christopher Hall, Cifer, Ciotka Cierpienia, Circuitrinos, Claudia Kapp, Clemens, Cody VanZandt, Crisan Talpes, Cy ‘kkm’ K’Nelson, Dan Hanvey, Daniel Cooney, David Mccann, David Stone, Denis Kovachev, Diederik Jekel, Dominik Rihak, Duffman, FireFerretDann, flakykilowatt, Florian Thie, Forever Bulking, Fred, Gabriele Siino, GGH, Guy Markey, Hannarrrr, Haris Karimjee, Heijde, I dropped out of my PhD, & I might forgive Simon., Ian Hamilton, Igor Francetic, Ishaan Shah, j51t, Jack Fretwell, Jacob Speelman, James Gaskell, James Gurney, James Haigh, James Leadbetter, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Jean-Manuel Izaret, John, Josef Probst, Joseph , Justin Warren, Katharina Hartmuth, Kevin B, Kirsten Athome, KJ Xiao, Knut Nesheim, Kristopher Sicari, Lach Woods, Leonard Neamtu, Marcin Wrochna, Mark Harper, Mark Moore, Mark Phillips, Mark Richardson, Martin, Matthew H, Mercure, Michael Belde, Michelle Valentinova, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Mike, Morten Engsvang, Nathan Rohrlach, Nicholas Hamdorf, Nick Humphries, Nicklas Kulp, Nico Casal, Nico Kempe, OldGreyWolf, Oliver Pelling-Matthews, Pawel Piwek, Peter Lee, Phil Saici, Philipp Legner, Phineas, Rapssack, Real Engineering, Reid, Richard Swain, Ryan, Sean Richards, Seb Stott, Sergio Diaz, Simone, Steffan , streetlights, Sylvus , szigyi, Tanner , Ted CLAY, Thibault , Thomas Charbonnel, Thomas Newman, Thusto , Tobias Ahsbahs, Tom Painter, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Tony, Tschäff Reisberg, Victor Gordan, Yorick Droz, Zoey O’Neill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loTNEhca8wQ
Climate Change Videos
The worst month of climate news in my entire career

Want to restore the planet’s ecosystems and see your impact in monthly videos? The first 100 people to join Planet Wild with my code SIMON10 will get the first month for free at: https://planetwild.com/r/simonclark/join
If you want to get to know them better first, check out their project using beehive fences to protect elephants and humans: https://planetwild.com/r/simonclark/m10
This month has been really tough. Let’s talk about why, and how we talk about climate in general. Oh, and how I’ve been staying sane. (?)
My monthly newsletter: https://www.simonoxfphys.com/newsletter
You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys
REFERENCES
1. https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-greenhouse-gases-wmo-un-708c3d35ce6fc3d3bcaccafdba6bba45
2. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/15/record-leap-in-co2-fuels-fears-of-accelerating-global-heating
3. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/28/change-course-now-humanity-has-missed-15c-climate-target-says-un-head
4. https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2025-10/state-of-climate-action-2025.pdf
5. https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/090d2fbb-32a6-412b-a3b8-1ce5c5905df2
6. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/cop/super-warming-methane-gas-is-being-tackled-too-slowly-un-says-ahead-cop30-2025-10-22/
7. https://global-tipping-points.org/about-us/
8. https://livingplanet.panda.org/en-GB/
9. https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/global-banking-climate-group-collapses-after-us-policy-shift-q6szfdjkh
———- II ———-
More about me – https://www.simonoxfphys.com/
My second channel – https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata
My book – https://geni.us/firmament
Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/simonoxfphys.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys
Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark
———- II ———-
Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic
Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.
Edited by Luke Negus.
Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon:
bitreign33 , Dave Teare, dryfrog, Eric A Gentzler, Gary Stark, Glen Monks, Marcus Bosshard.
Andy Hartley, Artem Plotnikov, Bastian Pranzas, Jeffry ., Jon Arlov, Marius Kießling, Paul H and Linda L, Peter Reid.
Adam Gillard, Adrian Sand, Alex, Alex Hall, Andrea De Mezzo, Andy Giesen, Andy Parr, Anže Cesar, Ashley Hauck, Ashley Steel, AYS , Baerbel Winkler, Bill Keydel, Brian Moss, Chris Laslett, Christian Weckner, Christopher Hall, Cifer, Ciotka Cierpienia, Circuitrinos, Claudia Kapp, Clemens, Cody VanZandt, Crisan Talpes, Cy ‘kkm’ K’Nelson, Dan Hanvey, Daniel Cooney, David Mccann, David Stone, Denis Kovachev, Diederik Jekel, Dominik Rihak, Duffman, FireFerretDann, flakykilowatt, Florian Thie, Fred, Gabriele Siino, GGH, Hannarrrr, Haris Karimjee, Heijde, I dropped out of my PhD, & I might forgive Simon., Ian Hamilton, Igor Francetic, Ishaan Shah, j51t, Jacob Speelman, James Gaskell, James Gurney, James Haigh, James Leadbetter, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Jean-Manuel Izaret, John, Josef Probst, Joseph , Justin Warren, Katharina Hartmuth, Kevin B, Kirsten Athome, KJ Xiao, Knut Nesheim, Kristopher Sicari, Lach Woods, Leonard Neamtu, Marcin Wrochna, Mark Harper, Mark Moore, Mark Phillips, Mark Richardson, Martin, Mercure, Michael Belde, Michelle Valentinova, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Mike, Morten Engsvang, Nathan Rohrlach, Nicholas Hamdorf, Nick Humphries, Nicklas Kulp, Nico Casal, Nico Kempe, OldGreyWolf, Pawel Piwek, Peter Lee, Phil Saici, Philipp Legner, Phineas, Rapssack, Real Engineering, Reid, Richard Swain, Ryan, Sean Richards, Seb Stott, Sergio Diaz, Simone, Steffan , streetlights, Sylvus , szigyi, Tanner , Ted CLAY, Thibault , Thomas Charbonnel, Thomas Newman, Thusto , Tobias Ahsbahs, Tom Painter, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Tschäff Reisberg, Victor Gordan, Yorick Droz, Zoey O’Neill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zBoXY5YeVo
Climate Change Videos
The future of climate denial
They’re hijacking the whales. Get access to my extra content on Nebula with 40% off at https://go.nebula.tv/simonclark
You can watch my chat with Ian about identifying astroturfed community groups here: https://nebula.tv/videos/simonclark-talking-about-how-to-identify-astroturfed-community-groups-with-my-new-researcher
REFERENCES
1. https://www.notion.so/drsimonclark/rechargenews.com/suppliers/orders-already-in-for-world-s-most-powerful-wind-turbine/2-1-1874493?zephr_sso_ott=9LG4eM
2. https://ourworldindata.org/electricity-mix
3. https://www.iea.org/energy-system/renewables/wind
4. https://www.green-oceans.org/
5. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TAZwRijVCg204T1yqepDflcGvs-zaqCX/view
6. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nrMSJOxI6Iqw6HRKtnvWjOkj3tp_gCRE/view
7. https://apnews.com/article/offshore-wind-whales-deaths-trump-5158af7f5bf0f5ef9e1530564ff791a9
8. https://www.desmog.com/2018/07/14/fake-grassroots-campaigns-astroturf-deserve-uprooting/
9. https://www.desmog.com/2024/02/08/revealed-the-climate-denial-network-behind-classic-astroturf-farmers-campaign/
10. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/24/trump-wind-power-threats-homes
11. https://www.eenews.net/articles/internal-emails-reveal-interiors-empire-wind-deliberations/
You can support the channel by becoming a patron at http://www.patreon.com/simonoxfphys
———- II ———-
More about me – https://www.simonoxfphys.com/
My second channel – https://www.youtube.com/simonclarkerrata
My book – https://geni.us/firmament
Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/simonoxfphys.com
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/simonoxfphys
Twitch – https://www.twitch.tv/drsimonclark
———- II ———-
Music by Epidemic Sound: http://nebula.tv/epidemic
Some stock footage courtesy of Getty.
Edited by Luke Negus.
Research and fact-checking by Ian L. Campbell
Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon:
bitreign33 , Dave Teare, dryfrog, Eric A Gentzler, Gary Stark, Glen Monks, Marcus Bosshard.
Andy Hartley, Artem Plotnikov, Bastian Pranzas, Jeffry ., Jon Arlov, Marius Kießling, Paul H and Linda L, Peter Reid.
Adam Gillard, Adrian Sand, Alex, Alex Hall, Andrea De Mezzo, Andy Giesen, Andy Parr, Anže Cesar, Ashley Hauck, Ashley Steel, AYS , Baerbel Winkler, Bill Keydel, Brian Moss, Chris Laslett, Christian Weckner, Christopher Hall, Cifer, Ciotka Cierpienia, Circuitrinos, Claudia Kapp, Clemens, Cody VanZandt, Crisan Talpes, Cy ‘kkm’ K’Nelson, Dan Hanvey, Daniel Cooney, David Mccann, David Stone, Denis Kovachev, Diederik Jekel, Dominik Rihak, Duffman, Ethan , FireFerretDann, flakykilowatt, Florian Thie, Fred, Gabriele Siino, GGH, Guy Markey, Hannarrrr, Haris Karimjee, Heijde, I dropped out of my PhD, & I might forgive Simon., Ian Hamilton, Igor Francetic, Ishaan Shah, j51t, Jacob Speelman, James Gaskell, James Gurney, James Haigh, James Leadbetter, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Jean-Manuel Izaret, John, Josef Probst, Joseph , Justin Warren, Katharina Hartmuth, Kevin B, Kirsten Athome, KJ Xiao, Knut Nesheim, Kristopher Sicari, Lach Woods, Leonard Neamtu, Marcin Wrochna, Mark Harper, Mark Moore, Mark Phillips, Mark Richardson, Martin, Mercure, Michael Belde, Michelle Valentinova, Miguel Cabrera Brufau, Mike, Morten Engsvang, Nathan Rohrlach, Nicholas Hamdorf, Nick Humphries, Nicklas Kulp, Nico Casal, Nico Kempe, OldGreyWolf, Pawel Piwek, Peter Lee, Phil Saici, Philipp Legner, Phineas, Rapssack, Real Engineering, Reid, Richard Swain, Ryan, Sean Richards, Seb Stott, Sergio Diaz, Simone, Steffan , streetlights, Sylvus , szigyi, Tanner , Ted CLAY, Thibault , Thomas Charbonnel, Thomas Newman, Thusto , Tobias Ahsbahs, Tom Painter, Tomás Garnier Artiñano, Tschäff Reisberg, Victor Gordan, Yorick Droz, Zoey O’Neill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlKRdH6A4
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Climate Change2 years ago
Why airlines are perfect targets for anti-greenwashing legal action
