Just as a new song, book or movie is initially “hot” and then fades as new songs, books or movies come out, response to climate change seems to be following that popularity bell curve. However, the climate problem has not only remained, but is increasing in its severity. Years ago, climatologists predicted that climate change would precipitate a greater frequency and severity of destructive weather events. That’s exactly what’s happening.
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Plants Are Losing Their Ability to
Absorb Carbon Dioxide as Emissions Rise
Edited by Chris McDermott
EcoWatch
March 3, 2025
Our planet’s plants and soils reached the peak of their ability to absorb carbon dioxide in 2008, and their sequestration rate has been falling ever since, according to a new analysis by a father-and-son team in the United Kingdom.
At first, the added carbon led to warmer temperatures, vegetation growth and a longer growing season. Once a tipping point was reached, however, the combination of heat stress, wildfires, drought, flooding, storms and the spread of new diseases and pests led to a reduction in the amount of carbon plants can soak up. The authors of the study wrote …
“The rate of natural sequestration of CO2
from the atmosphere by the terrestrial
biosphere peaked in 2008. Atmospheric
concentrations will rise more rapidly
than previously, in proportion to annual
CO2 emissions, as natural sequestration
is now declining by 0.25% per year.
“This effect will accelerate climate change
and emphasises the close connection be-
tween the climate and nature emergencies.
Effort is urgently required to rebuild global
biodiversity and to recover its ecosystem
services, including natural sequestration.”
Once the tipping point was reached, the chances of unchecked climate breakdown became more likely, reported The Guardian.
Former Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency James Curran, with help from his son Sam, took a detailed look at the world’s changing carbon concentration levels. Their analysis revealed that, since 2008, plants have been absorbing an average of 0.25 percent less carbon dioxide each year. James Curran said, as The Guardian reported …
“The findings are very stark. Emissions
now need to fall by 0.3% per year, just to
stand still. That’s a tall order since they
typically increase by 1.2% per year.”
The findings suggest that a one-fifth reduction in potential carbon sequestration can lead to a 25 to 37 percent annual increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide. Curran and Curran wrote in the study…
“This analysis confirms that the rate of
natural sequestration of CO2 from the
atmosphere by the terrestrial biosphere
is now declining, having reached a peak
in 2008. Previous to that date, sequest-
ration had been increasing by as much
as 0.8% per year in the 1960s and, if the
trend had continued, would have reduced
current annual increments in CO2 con-
centration in the atmosphere by over 30%.
“However, this ameliorating effect has been
lost and sequestration is now declining by
0.25% per year. Atmospheric CO2 concentra-
tion will now rise more rapidly than previously
in proportion to annual global CO2 emissions.”
The study, “Natural sequestration of carbon dioxide is in decline: climate change will accelerate,” was published in the journal Weather. Curran and Curran wrote …
“This growing and very damaging effect will
further accelerate climate change and serves,
yet again, to emphasise the close connection
between the climate and nature emergencies.”
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Comfort can be defined as the absence of distraction. If it’s too hot in a room, you think of the heat. If it’s too cold, you think of the cold. If it’s neither too hot nor too cold, you focus on your desired activity. So … we all seek a state of comfort.
In managing a business or a governmental entity, if things are running smoothly, you similarly achieve a state of comfort. And if anything arises that threatens that comfort, you’re forced to either adapt to the changing situation or deny that the problem exists, as change is often discomforting. In some instances, such as a major fire in your facility or a change in leadership, things may return to normal without the organization having to undergo major change. But …
Denial is only a short-term salve for reducing the anxiety that often accompanies change. If the threat to our state of comfort persists, then adaptive action will be essential to the future of our business or governmental entity.
I think we’re at a point at which we know that denial is a strategy that, over time, enables the problem to become worse and the remedy to become more difficult, more costly, and more threatening to the survival of our business or governmental entity. However, when the issue is climate change, at least some technical solutions exist …
- Solar panels to heat, cool and power our homes and other buildings;
- Transitioning from gas cars to e-cars, also solar powered. Many businesses are already transitioning their delivery fleets to electric.
- Transition from hi-maintenance grass lawns to land area that’s covered with visually-richer landscapes of shrubs and trees.
These technologies help solve the climate change problem, and provide a better quality-of-life experience … also for less money. Adding D’s comments …
“If, in fact, plants are absorbing less, due to climate change, our response needs to be: ‘Plant more.’ Stuart’s suggestion that you take out grass lawns is huge. Traditional lawns absorb almost no carbon dioxide. Put in native grasses and let them grow longer; plant trees and bushes.
“It’s also important to ensure the air around your home stays oxygenated. In addition, trees around a home will help keep it cooler in summer. In summary …
“Plant away!”
I recall one of the placard statements during some of the climate marches: “The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will solve it.” Perhaps we need to say, “Plant, baby, plant!” It’s truly up to each of us.
