Globally, the world’s forests absorb around 7.6 billion tonnes of CO2 per year, once emissions from forest fires, deforestation and other disturbances are accounted for. Temperate forests, such as those in the UK, are responsible for almost half of that uptake.
But can we rely on this carbon sink as pollution increases? By 2050, atmospheric concentrations of CO2 will be 40 per cent higher than today’s levels if current trends continue, at roughly 570 parts per million (ppm). Many of today’s trees will still be standing. How will they respond? A patch of old oak trees in the UK is helping scientists to predict how the world’s forests will respond to these higher levels of carbon dioxide as since 2017 scientists have been pumping CO2 around these trees, elevating local concentrations to our future climate.
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