How long is carbon is stored in plants? Not as long as we think, says study challenging efficacy of tree planting in climate fight

Sub: Environment

Sec: Climate Change

Context:

A recent study has cast doubts on the efficacy of nature-based carbon removal projects, particularly large-scale tree-planting initiatives aimed at combating climate change.

Key findings:

The research suggests that current climate models, which predict how long carbon remains stored in trees, may be flawed.
It indicates that these models often overestimate the duration carbon stays trapped in plants while underestimating the impact of climate change on forests.
While plants absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide annually, the longevity of this carbon storage is shorter than previously assumed.
This revelation challenges the feasibility of relying heavily on forests to mitigate carbon emissions without a concurrent reduction in fossil fuel use.
The study employed radiocarbon (Carbon-14) dating techniques to analyze carbon uptake and turnover in plants globally.
It found that current estimates of global plant productivity, crucial for carbon sequestration, may be underestimated.
This suggests that carbon cycles through plants and the atmosphere more rapidly than previously thought, necessitating a reevaluation of climate models to better account for these dynamics.
While plants play a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide, the study calls for caution in relying on them as a panacea for climate change without addressing broader emissions reductions.

Source: DTE