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Tree bark in the world’s forests absorbs the greenhouse gas methane, – a discovery that could have big implications for tackling climate change
Role of trees in mitigating climate change
As trees photosynthesise, their leaves take up carbon dioxide (CO₂) and lock it away as biomass in their trunks and branches providing a long-term store of carbon
Decarbonisation of the global economy and energy system is the key way to address climate change.
Healthy forests play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by acting as carbon sinks, absorbing billions of metric tonnes of CO2 annually.
Methane's Role in Climate Change
Methane has contributed about a third of the observed climate warming since preindustrial times.
Concentrations of methane in the atmosphere have been rising rapidly for the best part of two decades
That’s a real problem for Earth’s climate because methane traps much more heat in the atmosphere than the equivalent amount of CO₂.
But while CO₂ can last in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, methane has a lifetime of around ten years
This short atmospheric lifetime means that any changes to sources of methane or processes that remove methane from the atmosphere (known as methane sinks) can have rapid effects.
If removal is enhanced, this can be a quick climate win helping to mitigate escalating climate change
Wetlands are known to be the primary natural source of methane
Trees in swamps and floodplains can emit methane from the lower portions of their trunks
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