environment
Fossils show huge carbon emissions harm forests, not ‘green the planet’
Study of 56m-year-old leaves counters claims from Trump administration members of ‘benefits’ of fossil fuel pollution
TL;DR
- A study of fossilized leaf cells from 56 million years ago (PETM) shows rapid CO2 increases led to forest retreat and collapse, not greening.
- This challenges claims by figures like Doug Burgum and Chris Wright that fossil fuel pollution benefits plant growth.
- The PETM provides the closest historical comparison to current rapid carbon emissions, though today's rate is unprecedented.
- During the PETM, increased CO2 trapped heat, leading to forest die-offs due to extreme temperatures, lack of nutrients, pests, and drought, eventually leading to significant vegetation loss.
- Current forest mortality in various regions is already occurring, and scientists urge swift cuts to carbon emissions to avoid repeating past environmental collapses.
- The study suggests that once thresholds are passed, recovery takes a very long time, and today's forests face additional stresses like fragmentation and logging.