The natural processes that help regulate Earth’s temperature are showing signs of alarming decline, according to a recent study that reports a sharp drop in the ability of trees and land to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2). In 2023, almost no CO2 was absorbed by forests and other land-based ecosystems, one of the planet’s crucial mechanisms for cooling the atmosphere. The weakening of these carbon sinks raises concerns over the increasing impact of climate change.
The study, titled “Low Latency Carbon Budget Analysis Reveals a Large Decline of the Land Carbon Sink in 2023,” highlights a record-breaking rise in CO2 levels. It recorded an unprecedented CO2 growth rate of 3.37 parts per million (PPM) at Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Observatory, marking an 86% increase compared to the previous year and the highest rate observed since records began in 1958.
“This implies an unprecedented weakening of land and ocean sinks and raises critical questions about where and why this reduction occurred,” the study noted.
Major Cooling Mechanisms Faltering
Trees and forests, which absorb a substantial amount of CO2 through photosynthesis, play a key role in stabilizing global temperatures. However, this essential process seems to be faltering. Similarly, in the oceans, zooplanktons, which remove millions of tonnes of CO2 by feeding on microscopic algae, have also shown signs of disruption. Both of these processes are critical in balancing atmospheric CO2 levels, and their weakening signals an accelerating climate crisis.
Researchers observed that despite the global CO2 emissions rising by only 0.6% in 2023, the rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 points to a major decline in the Earth’s ability to absorb excess carbon. According to Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, “We’re seeing cracks in the resilience of the Earth’s systems… Terrestrial ecosystems are losing their carbon storage and uptake capacity, and the oceans are also showing signs of instability.”
Wildfires a Key Contributor
While the collapse of the land carbon sink is alarming, the study suggests that wildfires played a significant role in this decline. Major wildfires across the northern hemisphere in 2023 contributed to the rapid deterioration of forests’ ability to absorb CO2. These fires, exacerbated by rising temperatures and prolonged droughts, not only destroyed large areas of forest but also released vast amounts of stored carbon back into the atmosphere.
Despite these worrying findings, the report emphasizes that it is too early to conclude whether this collapse in the land sink is a lasting phenomenon. Researchers will need more time to determine if the 2023 decline was an anomaly or a sign of a long-term trend.