Green Eiffel Tower Carbon Capture Plan Unveiled

A plan has been put forward that would give France's Eiffel Tower a new environmental overhaul.

The proposal involves no less than 600,000 plants that would cover the Parisian landmark, creating what's been described as the world's most ‘ecologically-correct' tourist attraction.

The vision belongs to eco-engineering firm Ginger which states, if adopted, the plant overhaul could be finished within months. Once completed, the greener Eiffel Tower would act as a carbon scrubber, purifying the Paris air, but it's already been criticised by those who highlight how its appearance would change for the worse.

Green Eiffel Tower

Initial details concerning the green Eiffel Tower plan were published by a French newspaper called Le Figaro. "The project was confidential but the schedule indicated by Le Figaro is right", a Ginger representative stated, adding: "Should it not be the duty of engineers to imagine a new future where nature is brought back into the heart of the city."

These comments were shortly followed by a statement, given to reporters in Paris, on 1 December 2011. "The project is to cover the Eiffel tower in plants: that is to say, to make the largest tree in the world", Ginger's Director General, Jean-Luc Schoebelen, explained, adding: "The project is above all to create energy, energy surrounding sustainable development."

"At the start it was a monument that was created for two years, which was criticised. Now, it is one of the most visited monuments in the world with around 7 million visitors per year. They said it was a crazy technical risk to take which permitted to create, to create wants and needs to do things. Why not?! It could be a global spotlight on sustainable development".

Eiffel Tower Carbon Capture

According to Ginger, the greener Eiffel Tower's carbon emissions would run to 84.2 tonnes, but its level of carbon capture would extend to 87.8 tonnes. That would make it not just carbon neutral but carbon positive, effectively inhaling more than it pushes out.

Hundreds and hundreds of plants would cover its every surface while there'd also be an ultra high-tech irrigation system in place, featuring 12 tonnes of tubing made from rubber.

The organisation responsible for looking after the Tower - Paris City Hall - is yet to give its official backing to the idea.