Discussion keeps the world turning.
China has planted nearly 200 billion trees since the 1970s,
the largest green campaign in history as a matter of fact.
But scientists are now discovering these massive new forests are dramatically altering the country's water supply.
In response, China is now pioneering a nationwide water smart forestry system.
It's a story of how a global climate solution is being re-engineered for a drier, hotter world.
We're live from Beijing.
This is round two.
I'm Steve.
Thank you so much for being with us today.
And for the show, I'm with Fei-Fei and Yu Shan.
First up...
For decades when we talk about climate action, trees are the universal answer.
More trees mean more carbon-absorbed, healthier air, and greener landscapes.
Nobody has taken this mission more seriously than China
since the 1970s the nation has embarked on the largest ecological engineering project in history planting an estimated and mind-blowing 186 billion trees.
That is a staggering act of planetary preservation.
However, recent scientific analysis reveals a shocking hidden cost to this green success story.
The sheer volume of new forests has fundamentally altered the distribution of water across the country,
particularly in the northern arid regions.