ENVIRONMENT

Study: Australia's rainforests now emit more carbon

Australia's tropical rainforests have flipped from carbon sinks to sources, the first known worldwide, according to a Nature study of 49 years of data from 20 Queensland forests. Extreme heat, atmospheric dryness, drought and more intense cyclones have killed trees faster than new ones grow, turning woody biomass into a net emitter about 25 years ago. Lead author Dr Hannah Carle warns models may overstate forests' ability to offset fossil fuels, calling the shift a "canary in the coal mine." Australia has set new emissions targets amid ongoing fossil fuel reliance.

Reviewed by JQJO team

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