Minneapolis selling deeply-discounted trees to beautify the city and combat climate change

The City of Minneapolis is selling 2,200 trees to residents to help enhance the city's canopy and combat climate change.

"If you want a tree, you can get one for 30 bucks," says Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. "Normally it would cost you like $250."

Frey says planting even a single tree can enhance air quality, beautify neighborhoods, and help reduce utility costs.

Residents and property owners can purchase up to three trees per address during the fall tree sale, and they're coming at a relatively low cost.

It's part of the city's $10 million commitment to combat climate change. Sydney Schaaf with the city's health department says there will be a variety of trees available.

"We always have 30-plus species that are available to residents to try to diversify the canopy as much as possible," says Schaaf. "So when the next pest or disease comes through, it doesn't decimate so much of the canopy like it did with emerald ash borer or some of the other invasive pests or diseases that have come through."

The city is taking orders online through September 30th. They'll be available for pick-up in mid-October. You can get more information and purchase the trees here .

The most effective way to fight global warming is to plant lots of trees according to studies. Over decades, those new trees could suck up nearly 830 billion tons (750 billion metric tons) of heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. That’s about as much carbon pollution as humans have spewed in the past 25 years.