When Going Green Can Go Wrong

A 2007 University of Leicester study found that for every hectare of oil palm, 170 tonnes of carbon are released into the air over the plantation's useful life of 25 years. By contrast, each hectare of peat-swamp absorbs 2.6 tonnes of carbon annually, so it stores 65 tonnes over 25 years. Producing palm oil on peatland, in other words, results in a net emission of carbon.

1 hectare = 1 footall field
1 tonne = 1000 kg
carbon = element found in harmful gases like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide
net emission = overall release of gases