The Amazon is no longer a carbon sink, it is an emitter
Summary
- Recent satellite and ground observations show the Amazon rainforest released more CO2 than it absorbed in the latest assessment year.
- Widespread deforestation, forest degradation and increased frequency of drought‑induced fires have weakened the forest's carbon uptake capacity.
- The transition from a net carbon sink to a net carbon source adds to the global greenhouse gas burden and threatens India's climate commitments.
- Scientists warn that continued loss of Amazonian biomass could create a feedback loop accelerating global warming.
Key Facts
- · The Amazon has switched from being a net carbon sink to a net carbon source.
- · Deforestation and forest fires are the primary drivers of this reversal.
- · The carbon imbalance contributes directly to higher atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
- · The change undermines the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global temperature rise.
- · Restoring forest cover and curbing fires are essential to re‑establish the sink function.
Why it matters
India, as a signatory to international climate accords, relies on large tropical forests like the Amazon to regulate global CO2 levels. The loss of this natural sink escalates climate risks, affecting India's agriculture, water security, and health, and underscores the urgency of forest conservation and climate‑resilient policies.
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