Arctic tundra now releases more carbon than it stores, report warns

Scientists say the Arctic tundra, once a carbon sink, has begun emitting more carbon dioxide due to rising temperatures and wildfires, undermining the region's role in regulating global climate.

Marianne Lavelle reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

• The NOAA's annual Arctic Report Card shows the tundra has shifted from storing carbon to releasing it due to thawing permafrost and fires.
• Increased Arctic emissions pose a growing threat to global efforts to control climate change.
• NOAA’s future climate research faces uncertainty under the incoming administration’s proposed budget cuts.

Key quote:

“We are seeing impacts of warming in real time in the Arctic, and it’s a call to action.”

— Richard Spinrad, NOAA Administrator

Why this matters:

The Arctic holds vast amounts of stored carbon in its permafrost. If thawing continues, releasing even a fraction could accelerate climate change. Reduced funding for climate research may hinder our ability to respond effectively.

Read more: Arctic island succumbs to erosion as melting permafrost reshapes its landscape