A recent Washington Post article by Sarah Kaplan highlights a record-breaking spike in atmospheric CO₂ in 2024, an increase far beyond what fossil fuel emissions alone can explain. Scientists are beginning to recognize that stressed ecosystems, particularly forests, are no longer able to absorb carbon the way they once did. Drought, wildfire, and extreme heat have weakened nature’s carbon sinks to the point that they may now be releasing more CO₂ than they absorb.Because it’s not just what we’re putting into the atmosphere, it’s what we’re destroying that would otherwise keep it in balance. Taking this reporting further means looking at the full climate function of ecosystems, especially their role in managing water. Forests don’t just store carbon, they create clouds, move heat away from the Earth’s surface through evapotranspiration, and help bring and hold water inland, buffering drought and building healthier soil. When ecosystems break down, the whole climate system begins to unravel.
Posted: May 5, 2025