August 22, 2026
Carbon Dioxide Makes Grass Grow Green
Timothy Birdnow
Isn't this a good thing?
More grass means more food for animals and the whole ecology there flourishes. And it means more carbon taken out of the air.
The article states:
"The paper, published in Nature, shows that higher carbon dioxide levels help wild savanna grasses reduce water loss through their leaves. This allows them to maintain photosynthesis and produce more aboveground growth when water is scarce."
So the grasses become more efficient at holding water and thus growing even during dry spells, thus reducing the dangers of desertification. And at the same time they are taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. And feeding animals.
The article continues:
"Dr. Kimberley Simpson, research fellow in the University of Sheffield's School of Biosciences and the study lead, said, "The grasses that dominate savannas have often been considered largely unresponsive to rising carbon dioxide because they already use a highly efficient form of photosynthesis under hot and high-light conditions.
"Our findings challenge that assumption. Under dry conditions, higher carbon dioxide helps these grasses conserve water, reduce drought stress and continue growing."
Savannahs cover one fifth of the Earth's surface, so this is a major find; it means a carbon sink that had been ignored by the geeeniuses at the IPCC.
Yes, grass fires then become more likely but still it's by and large good news.
And remember too that humans graze cattle on many of these Savannah lands (think eastern Colorado or Texas or Nebraska) and more grass means more cattle which means more steaks and chops and hamburgers.
This is an opportunity more than it is a problem. If life gives you lemons make lemonade, they say. The powers that be want to use lemons to make a bad tasting laxative.
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at
09:24 AM
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