Australia’s rainforests now release more carbon than they absorb, scientists warn

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Independent or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Australia’s tropical rainforests, once vital carbon sinks, have now become net sources of carbon dioxide, according to a new study
• This marks the first recorded shift of its kind globally
• Rising temperatures, increased droughts, and more frequent tropical cyclones have led to higher tree mortality, outweighing new growth and causing the forests to release more carbon than they absorb

🔭 The context: The study, published in Nature, found that standing woody biomass in Australia’s wet tropics is now losing around 0.9 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year, compared to 0.6 tonnes per hectare in previous years
• The shift from carbon sink to carbon source is largely attributed to climate-driven factors such as heat stress, atmospheric dryness, and drought, which have caused significant tree die-offs
• This change has not been offset by increased tree growth, despite higher levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, which would typically stimulate plant growth

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Tropical forests are crucial for mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
• The shift in Australia’s rainforests threatens this important role, challenging the assumption that tropical forests will continue to absorb more carbon as CO2 emissions rise
• If this trend continues, it could undermine global efforts to reduce emissions, as forests were expected to offset a portion of the carbon released from fossil fuel burning

⏭️ What's next: The research highlights the growing importance of protecting and restoring tropical forests to maintain their role in stabilizing the climate
• With cyclones set to become more severe due to climate change, they could further reduce the forests' carbon sink capacity
• The study’s authors stress the need to pay attention to long-term forest health data and take action to prevent further degradation of these ecosystems

💬 One quote: “Our finding is clear evidence that the potential of climate change mitigation via the action of a large carbon sink from tropical forests is in danger, though these forests remain irreplaceable stores of carbon and biodiversity.” — Study co-authors

📈 One stat: Australia’s tropical rainforests are now releasing 0.9 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year, a stark contrast to their previous absorption rate of 0.6 tonnes per hectare, marking a significant shift in the carbon dynamics of the region

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