Ecosystem Climate Feedbacks

As the climate warms, thawing permafrost, wetlands, inland waters, and wildfires can release carbon dioxide and methane, reinforcing the warming that helped trigger those emissions.

A study published in Environmental Research Letters estimated that these feedbacks could add 20–30% to warming by the end of the century, with permafrost accounting for about half of the estimated emissions. Because many climate models omit or underrepresent these processes, projections and remaining carbon budgets may be affected. Cutting human emissions can limit the additional warming and the risks associated with these feedbacks.