A new study by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre shows that the capacity of EU forests to absorb atmospheric CO2 is on the decline.
The research, published in Nature, signals that if this worrisome trend continues, it might disrupt the EU’s strategy for achieving climate targets on time.
Put together by a team of academics, the study also provides science-based advice on pathways for addressing this alarming tendency.
During the data deep dive, the researchers found that in the period between 2010 and 2014, the average forest carbon sink in Europe absorbed 456.9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent on an annual basis.
In the years between 2015 and 2019, the absorbed volume dropped to 374.9 MtCO2e, followed by the most recent statistics that show that in the timeline between 2020 and 2022, EU forest carbon sinks took in 332.6 MtCO2e annually, marking a gradual but substantial forest carbon absorption decline.
According to the study, this degradation is caused by increased tree harvesting, rising temperatures, and climate change stress in the form of more frequent droughts and heatwaves that elevate the risk of insect infestations and wildfires.
Beyond depicting a progressive destruction of nature, these findings also point to a threat for the EU’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 in comparison to 1990 levels and reaching net-zero by 2050, as for both of these targets policymakers risk over-relying on forest CO2 removal sinks.
Read more: New Study Finds Protecting And Restoring EU Forests Is Key To Meeting CO2 Removal Goals
To be able to preserve these valuable carbon sinks in Europe, the study calls for improved forest modelling and monitoring, highlighting that this need is particularly pressing as the temperatures across the continent keep increasing, raising the threat of wildfires.
Additionally, the authors recommend using AI and satellite technology for more precise forest carbon flux measurement and prediction, which would track the circulation of CO2 through different environments, like its movement from vegetation into the atmosphere.
For a better understanding of sustainable forest management, the publication outlines actionable research priorities that would also help policymakers get a better grasp on this valuable decarbonization mechanism.
Relevant: Europe Faces Forest Carbon Credit Shortfall Amid Rising Demand And Low Supply, Arbonics Says
