And, the truth is, sea levels rise slowly and people and ecosystems adapt to them. The real global disaster would be one in which food supplies were threatened a scenario increased atmospheric carbon dioxide protects against. Anyone who truly is concerned with ensuring adequate food supplies for the world s growing population and is committed to thriving ecosystems should be singing the praises of the increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration rather than bemoaning it. Thousands of experiments reported in scientific journals prove that carbon dioxide is an elixir for plants. Higher concentrations help them grow faster and stronger, and better able to withstand environmental stresses from heat, drought, pollution, and insufficient nutrients.
Healthier plants lead to healthier ecosystems for forests, grasslands, and everything in between.
Already, the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels has led to a rise in global crop production of 10 percent, according to Sylvan Wittwer, former chairman of the National Research Council s Board on Agriculture. That 10 percent increase feeds a lot of hungry people and comes without extra effort or cost to farmers. Direct effects of increasing CO 2 on food production and the output of rangelands and forests may be more important than the effects on climate. Not in alarm though, but in celebration. Virtual Climate Alert draws upon the expertise of Greening Earth Society science advisors and is coordinated by New Hope Environmental Services of Charlottesville, Virginia.