Peter Nowak

It's been a wonderful few years for plant growth around the world. This resurgence is heavily driven by higher CO₂ levels in the atmosphere. NASA satellite records from 1982–2023 reveal that rising CO₂ contributed around 70% of new greening cover over vast areas of semi-desert and barren landscapes. This expansion is visible across a quarter to a half of all Earth's vegetated lands - a rate unprecedented in the satellite era. Global crop yields have soared since 1960, driven by spectacular agricultural advances and quietly supercharged by CO₂ fertilisation. Concurrently, famine deaths have plunged, even as the world's population doubled. CO₂ has driven the bulk of this timely explosion in the green world, boosting both terrestrial agriculture and oceanic phytoplankton. We have seen a greater than 18% increase in global leaf cover in 40 years. The largest gains have occurred in India and China through massive tree-planting and intensive farming, all fed by an enriching atmosphere. Warmer, balmier temperatures are lengthening growing seasons too, a feature of a more active hydrological cycle. Studies show that every 100 ppm increase in CO₂ typically boosts plant growth by 25% to 50%. An analysis of 776 studies from 1993–2019 shows that an average CO₂ level of 550 ppm would deliver a 38% increase in global biomass. The treatment of CO₂ as a pollutant seems eerily counter-intuitive given this massive greening. There can be no doubt that CO₂ is on the comeback trail. Data suggests that higher CO₂ levels, paired with modest warming, represent a historical sweet spot for terrestrial and marine life. This is precisely why commercial greenhouses deliberately pump CO₂ to 1,000–1,500 ppm to ensure crop yields jump by 20% to 70%. This should be celebrated as 'great news for humanity'. Yet, there is only disappointing silence from backers of the global warming agenda.

Human emissions of CO2 account for only a minuscule 0.0016% of all CO2 emissions in our atmosphere. Total CO2 makes up only 0.04%. So if natural emissions make up practically all of the CO2 in the air, how will reducing human CO2 make a difference?

Atmosphere comprises 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen. Greenhouse gases less than 0.1%. Of this 0.1%, the largest greenhouse gas is water vapour at 96%. CO2 is 0.0004% of the atmosphere. Man-made CO2 is 4% of all CO2 , 16 ppm, which is miniscule. Enjoy the sun.