News and Insights
- 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.
- The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has revealed alarming declines in bird populations across every U.S. habitat, with 229 species in urgent need of conservation efforts.
This trend underscores the broader ecological crisis, and is a big reason why we have a Featured Creature series in the first place. Every creature is an important part of some system. Birds play crucial roles in pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control. Their decline signals deeper environmental issues that also threaten human and non-human health and well-being.
Events and Community
- Your own backyard! | Less Lawn, More Life
Bio4Climate is partnering with Plant It Wild, Homegrown National Park, and other leading organizations on the nationwide Less Lawn, More Life Challenge, a FREE program to help transform more yards into thriving ecosystems!
Weekly challenges are designed to engage your curiosity and help you transform your lawn into a vibrant ecosystem teeming with life. Discover simple techniques to create habitat that butterflies, birds, and beneficial insects can’t resist.