Global Warming

Global warming: plants may absorb more carbon dioxide than previously thought

Global warming may not be damaging the Earth as quickly as feared after scientists found that plants can soak up more carbon dioxide than previously thought. According to researchers, climate models have failed to take into account that when carbon dioxide increases in the atmosphere, plants thrive, become larger, and are able to absorb more CO2.

As part of the carbon cycle, plants use light to photosynthesise carbon dioxide, turning it into carbohydrate to grow and releasing oxygen as a waste product. Now a team at Wyoming University has found that carbon dioxide stays in leaves longer than previously thought, acting as a fertiliser and accelerating plant growth.

The team estimates that climate scientists have underestimated the ability of plants to grow and absorb carbon dioxide by as much as 16 per cent.

The finding may mean that it will be easier to fulfil the target of keeping global warming below two degrees since pre-industrial times. The Earth has currently warmed 0.85°C from 1880.

It was originally thought that vegetation on Earth currently removes one quarter of all human emissions. But the new study suggests it is far higher.