‘Global Greening’ Sounds Good. In the Long Run, It’s Terrible
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/science/climate-change-plants-global-greening.html
Source: By Carl Zimmer, The New York Times.
Excerpt: “Global greening” sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Plants need carbon dioxide to grow, and we are now emitting 40 billion tons of it into the atmosphere each year. A number of small studies have suggested that humans actually are contributing to an increase in photosynthesis across the globe. Elliott Campbell, an environmental scientist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and his colleagues last year published a study that put a number to it. Their conclusion: plants are now converting 31 percent more carbon dioxide into organic matter than they were before the Industrial Revolution. Climate change denialists were quick to jump on Dr. Campbell’s research as proof that increased carbon dioxide is making the world a better place. ...Dr. Campbell ...feels [they] are drawing the wrong lessons from his research. Here are four reasons he believes nobody should be celebrating “global greening.” More Photosynthesis Doesn’t Mean More Food ...Extra Carbon Dioxide Can Make Plants Less Nutritious ...More Plants Won’t Prevent Climate Change ...Global Greening Won’t Last Forever ...As temperatures rise and rainfall patterns change, plants may stop soaking up extra carbon dioxide....
Source: By Carl Zimmer, The New York Times.
Excerpt: “Global greening” sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Plants need carbon dioxide to grow, and we are now emitting 40 billion tons of it into the atmosphere each year. A number of small studies have suggested that humans actually are contributing to an increase in photosynthesis across the globe. Elliott Campbell, an environmental scientist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and his colleagues last year published a study that put a number to it. Their conclusion: plants are now converting 31 percent more carbon dioxide into organic matter than they were before the Industrial Revolution. Climate change denialists were quick to jump on Dr. Campbell’s research as proof that increased carbon dioxide is making the world a better place. ...Dr. Campbell ...feels [they] are drawing the wrong lessons from his research. Here are four reasons he believes nobody should be celebrating “global greening.” More Photosynthesis Doesn’t Mean More Food ...Extra Carbon Dioxide Can Make Plants Less Nutritious ...More Plants Won’t Prevent Climate Change ...Global Greening Won’t Last Forever ...As temperatures rise and rainfall patterns change, plants may stop soaking up extra carbon dioxide....