Fungi: A Powerful Ally in the Fight Against Climate Change

Mycorrhizal fungi, which form symbiotic relationships with nearly all land plants, are important conduits to transport carbon into soil ecosystems. A meta-analysis estimates that as much as 13.12 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalents fixed by terrestrial plants is allocated to mycorrhizal fungi annually, roughly equivalent to 36% of yearly global fossil fuel emissions. However, 90% of soils could be degraded by 2050, and fungi are left out of most conservation and environmental policy.