Amazon Rainforest Records First Carbon-Positive Year in Recorded History
๐ Quick Summary
Scientists have recorded a historic first: the Amazon rainforest emitted more carbon dioxide than it absorbed in 2023, officially becoming a carbon source rather than a carbon sink for the first time in scientific measurement history.
In a grim milestone for planetary health, the Amazon rainforest โ long celebrated as the "lungs of the Earth" โ has officially become a net carbon emitter for the first time in recorded scientific history. A comprehensive study published in Nature involving 150 researchers from 11 countries found that the Amazon emitted 1.5 billion tonnes of COโ in 2023, compared to absorbing 1.2 billion tonnes, resulting in a net emission of 300 million tonnes.