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Tropical Rainforests on Pace to Become Net Carbon Emitters

HeadlineMar 05, 2020

In climate news, a new scientific paper finds the Congo and Amazon tropical rainforests could soon become net emitters of carbon dioxide — reversing their role as carbon sinks that mitigate the worst effects of the climate crisis. The findings published in the journal Nature on Wednesday show carbon dioxide absorption by tropical rainforests peaked in the 1990s and have been falling ever since. Researchers warn that without dramatic action to stabilize the climate, the forests could become a net source of greenhouse gas emissions as early as the mid-2030s.

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