"Carbon-Capturing Trees Struggle to Absorb Excess CO2, Emitting Instead"

Trees in warmer, drier climates are struggling to absorb excess CO2 and are instead releasing it back into the atmosphere, a process known as photorespiration. This subverts the belief that trees can help reduce carbon emissions, and as global warming increases, the ability of trees to absorb CO2 is expected to decrease significantly. Researchers found that in hotter climates, trees are releasing up to two times more CO2, and any climate exceeding average daytime temperatures of around 68 degrees Fahrenheit experiences this effect. This discovery raises concerns about the future impact of climate change on the planet's ability to mitigate CO2 levels.