California city planting free fruit trees in residents’ yards to fight greenhouse gas emissions

The city of Oxnard, Calif., is planting free fruit trees in its residents’ yards in bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Officials announced on Tuesday that residents would have the chance to have a lime, lemon, peach, orange or avocado tree planted in their front yards free of charge under the new program.

{mosads}Requests from residents in neighborhoods that are disproportionately affected by pollution will be prioritized by the program. Those selected by the program will also be required to maintain their trees in compliance with guidelines outlined by the program.

The effort is funded by the California Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund through several state agencies, including the state’s Department of Forestry and the Urban and Community Forestry Program.

An official with the Oxnard Public Works Department told The Hill that the program aims to further the goals of the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The act requires the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by next year. 

Those goals include “resulting in a net greenhouse gas benefit, and providing environmental services and cost-effective solutions to the needs of urban communities and local agencies,” the representative said in a statement.

“Urban and Community Forestry efforts play a significant role in meeting the State’s GHG emission reduction targets,” the representative added.