Climate changeIn an Oxford University study, scientists have revealed something surprising about how we’re trying to fight climate change. You’ve probably heard of ‘net zero’, a plan where we cancel out the carbon dioxide (CO₂) we release by planting trees or using oceans to absorb it. But researchers from the University of Oxford and other top institutions have discovered a big problem: this approach alone won’t stop global warming.
Here’s why: When we burn fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil, we release CO₂ into the air. Plants and oceans do help absorb about half of all human emissions, but they can only handle so much. This study shows that if we keep relying only on these ‘natural carbon sinks’ while still using fossil fuels, the Earth will keep getting hotter. It’s like trying to empty a bathtub by just slowing the tap instead of turning it off.
So, what should we do?
The scientists say we need to focus on reducing how much CO₂ we release in the first place. This means using cleaner energy, like wind and solar power, and being smarter about how we use energy every day.
In the end, this is a global waste disposal problem. Companies selling fossil fuels should be required to dispose responsibly of the carbon dioxide those fuels generate. If they did, this could solve global warming completely within a generation.
Why does this matter?
Because global warming leads to rising sea levels, extreme weather and damage to our planet. If we want a future full of forests, healthy oceans and happy people, we need to act. Moreso, we need governments and businesses to step up and fairly report on their emissions to reach global net zero targets, not claim mother nature’s efforts as their own.
