Simple Solutions For Climate Change?

In 2019, 'ecopreneur' Thomas Crowther co-authored a paper, suggesting that the planet had room (in an area about the size of China) for an extra trillion trees. This was on land unused for agriculture or settlement. The paper was much read and highly cited, eventually resulting in the One Trillion Trees Initiative (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/01/ive-never-said-we-should-plant-a-trillion-trees-what-ecopreneur-thomas-crowther-did-next-aoe). The observation was effectively seized upon by media and politicians, as a solution to the climate crisis. Crowther now says he never actually suggested planting one trillion trees. The reaction to the study, clearly illustrates, however, a craving for 'simple solutions'. Trees do remove and store some carbon from the atmosphere. It has always been evident, however, that we couldn't simply plant our way out of climate change. Most obviously, any benefit from the trees would be of very limited duration, without a concomitant major reduction of carbon emissions. There were other obvious questions like where would the trees be planted (if, indeed, planting rather than allowing natural seeding was used); what species would be used; how long would the trees take to develop; who would care for them (wildfires and disease take their toll); how would we counter deforestation in other parts of the globe etc, etc? 'Simple solutions' have always been with us. They have been advocated by generations for dealing with drug misuse, crime etc. The trouble with climate change, is that we are dealing with the most complex system imaginable with untold variables. Crowther's Restor Project, described as a 'Google Maps of biodiversity' sounds an interesting development. It aims to scientfically assess the impact of restoration projects. It seems, however, unlikely that the media, politicians and voters will be easily be weaned away from 'simple solutions'. As a UK minister said, to the now embarrassment of his prestigious alma mater, "I think the people of this country have had enough of experts" (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/sep/01/oxford-vice-chancellor-embarrassed-to-have-michael-gove-as-alumnus).