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From Carbon Sinks to Carbon Sources: A Climate Catastrophe Unfolds
Climate change is now on an accelerated course.
For decades, scientists have emphasized the importance of carbon sinks, such as forests, oceans, and soils, in mitigating the worst effects of climate change. These natural systems absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, playing a critical role in regulating the global climate.
However, in recent years, researchers have increasingly warned that these vital carbon sinks are failing, and the latest data confirms their fears. This failure could trigger a cascade of negative consequences for global ecosystems and humanity, escalating the urgency of addressing climate change.
The Early Warnings: A History of Decline
Scientists have been waving red flags about this issue for decades. Back in the day, the idea was that forests, especially tropical ones like the Amazon, were like giant sponges that could soak up more and more CO2. However, even in the 1980s and 90s, experts were raising concerns. They knew that deforestation and rising temperatures would eventually push these systems past their limits, but the scale of the threat wasn’t fully understood at the time.
