Amazon rainforest now emitting more CO2 than it absorbs

[Nevilledog]

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Bill McKibben
@billmckibben
This is a remarkable study--and it makes the climate math considerably harder...Humans need to cut emissions faster, because natural systems aren't absorbing them

Amazon rainforest now emitting more CO2 than it absorbs
Cutting emissions is more urgent than ever with forest producing more than a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year
theguardian.com
5:42 AM · Jul 15, 2021

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/14/amazon-rainforest-now-emitting-more-co2-than-it-absorbs?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other


The Amazon rainforest is now emitting more carbon dioxide than it is able to absorb, scientists have confirmed for the first time.

The emissions amount to a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, according to a study. The giant forest had previously been a carbon sink, absorbing the emissions driving the climate crisis, but is now causing its acceleration, researchers said.

Most of the emissions are caused by fires, many deliberately set to clear land for beef and soy production. But even without fires, hotter temperatures and droughts mean the south-eastern Amazon has become a source of CO2, rather than a sink.

Growing trees and plants have taken up about a quarter of all fossil fuel emissions since 1960, with the Amazon playing a major role as the largest tropical forest. Losing the Amazon’s power to capture CO2 is a stark warning that slashing emissions from fossil fuels is more urgent than ever, scientists said.

*snip*

[cilla4progress]

1. Tragic

No words.

What do they say after a catastrophe - its no
longer a search and rescue, but a recovery operation.

[Javaman]

2. we're so fucked. nt

[dalton99a]

3. No worries. The oceans can absorb it

Hopefully the fishes will evolve in time to handle the acidity

[Submariner]

4. !960 3 Billion people doubled to 6 billion in 2000

and almost at 8 billion today. Dead whales are already washing up on our beaches. Infants born today may get to see the last of the giants die off when they get out of high school.

The only way to fix South America is have idiots like Brazil's Bolsonaro removed forcefully from office, and install an environmentally oriented government in Brazil that stops ALL rain forest timber harvesting and burning.

The likelihood of that happening is nil, so the planet is screwed. It's going to be really painful soon when the fresh water stops coming out of the faucet.