Increased levels of CO2 are making the Earth greener – but that might not be a good sign for the environment, according to a recent study, which shows that, contrary to what one may suspect, just in the past 33 years, the planet has gained a green continent, twice the size of the continental United States.
70% of the increased growth was attributed to the “CO2 fertilization effect”, whereby increased levels of CO2 during plant respiration boosts photosynthesis, allowing plants to grow bigger. The effect wears off, as plants adjust to the new levels of CO2.
The greening is claimed to be a bellwether for how much CO2 has been added to the atmosphere, which is a driver of climate change, which is supposed to be bad news.