The Amazon rainforest has transitioned from a carbon sink to a net source of carbon dioxide emissions over the last 15 years, according to a study published in the journal Nature. A research team led by Luciana Gatti from the National Institute for Space Research in São Paulo analyzed atmospheric CO2 measurements spanning from 2010 to 2024 across an area of approximately 6.7 million square kilometers. The findings indicate that the region released an average of 320 million tons of carbon annually during this period.
The scientists conclude that direct human activities are the primary drivers behind this shift in the greenhouse gas balance, rather than climate change itself. Deforestation, forest degradation, and the burning of biomass have fundamentally altered the region's carbon balance and local climate. While climatic phenomena such as El Niño exacerbate these regional impacts, the study emphasizes that logging and fires have turned the rainforest into a CO2 emitter.
Based on these results, the research team is calling for an immediate halt to deforestation, stricter controls to prevent slash-and-burn practices, and the implementation of reforestation programs. The Amazon plays a critical role in regulating South America's climate and storing vast amounts of carbon, but experts warn that droughts and logging are pushing the system toward a potential collapse.
Recent data from Brazilian authorities shows that deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has fallen to its lowest level in a decade. Between August 2025 and July 2026, approximately 2,874 square kilometers of forest were destroyed. This represents a significant decrease compared to previous years under President Jair Bolsonaro, when deforestation surged to about 13,200 square kilometers in 2021 and 11,500 square kilometers in 2022.
Sources: Der Spiegel.