Fossils show huge carbon emissions harm forests, not ‘green the planet’
Summary
A new study shows that when large amounts of carbon dioxide were released 56 million years ago, the Earth’s forests mostly died instead of growing more. This research suggests that today’s rapid carbon emissions from fossil fuels will harm forests rather than help them grow.Key Facts
- The study looked at fossilized leaf cells from the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), about 56 million years ago.
- During the PETM, carbon was released over 130,000 years, causing global temperatures to rise by up to 8°C (14°F).
- This warming caused forests to shrink dramatically, losing about 60% of their plant biomass.
- The speed of today’s carbon emissions is even faster than during the PETM.
- High carbon dioxide levels initially helped some plants but eventually led to forest decline from heat, pests, and wildfires.
- Some officials in President Trump’s administration have claimed that more CO2 is good for plants, but experts say this is misleading.
- The study was published in the journal Science and warns that forests need more than just CO2 to survive; they also need suitable temperatures and nutrients.
- Increased heat also raises risks of pest outbreaks and wildfires, which damage forests further.
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