CO₂ - plant snack or climate killer? What's behind it?

Hey, guys! You've probably heard the saying, "CO₂ is plant food." But what's really behind that statement? Climate skeptics like to drop something like that and claim that more CO₂ would be mega for plants and for the climate. Let's check out what's really going on!

First of all, CO₂ is an important component of photosynthesis. That's the process by which plants draw energy from the sun. So it's like plants are sunbathing while snacking. But does more CO₂ equal more green power? Unfortunately, it's not that easy.

Yes, some plants can grow better with more CO₂. But that's not the case for all plants. It's not like us humans, where everyone can tolerate an extra helping of fries. With plants, it's more complicated.

And then we have the global warming thing. More CO₂ in the atmosphere = hotter planet. That leads to more extreme weather, like droughts and floods. Imagine being on the beach and suddenly running out of air - that's what happens to plants in an environment that's too hot and dry. No amount of extra CO₂ will help.

There's also the problem of ocean acidification. They also absorb CO₂. That's bad for a lot of marine life*, especially those that have calcium carbonate shells, like corals and clams. Not a good move, folks.

Long story short: The idea that more CO₂ equals more green landscapes is too simplistic. It's tempting to explain complex things with simple slogans, but in this case it totally backfires.

The science is very clear on this: we need to reduce CO₂ emissions. Yes, CO₂ is plant food. But more of it doesn't automatically mean more green, healthy plants. Rather, it means an overheated and unpredictable planet. So we need to check the facts and do something. Tick-tock, the clock is ticking, folks!

Sources: https://klimavoracht.de/ (Twitter: https://twitter.com/KlimaVorAcht); Petition for More Climate and Less Stock Market on TV