It also appears as if hydrogen is a way in which the Global North envisages getting OPEC countries onboard (see IRENA reports).
With regards blue and maybe green hydrogen, oil producing countries see it as a greenwashing opportunity, but also perhaps a way to expand their portfolio and maybe also transitioning away from fossil fuels, that is if they can't avoid it altogether.
Thanks for your reflections on this. We have been reading about the political economy of hydrogen (of all colours) and think that you are very right about this. It appears to be very much the agenda for the EU and its neighbourhood policy.
But the picture is of course more complex than new trees versus old growth forests with regards CO2 absorption. While treelings cannot absorb so much CO2 yet, it appears as if middle-aged trees (50-140 years) absorb more CO2 than old trees (in which CO2 is already stored).
This data may not consider reforestation. Yet, reforestation cannot replace the ecological systems of old-growth forests and their related social relations. Sweden is interesting. Despite reforestation, old growth forests are being destroyed at a high rate. Also, young trees absorb much less CO2.
Forests cover 70% of the country, but many argue the Swedish model of replacing old-growth forests with monoculture plantations is bad for biodiversity