CLIMATE CROWD NEWSLETTER - February 2020

 

A little known plant called spekboom (Portulacaria afra) could provide a big boost to South Africa's efforts to combat climate change. Spekboom is one of just 25 species that collect CO2 from the air both at night and during the day. The plant switches to night time CO2 absorption when conditions are dry, allowing the plant to conserve precious moisture that would otherwise be lost during the heat of the day. 

The shrub, once mature, provides much-needed shade for plants and animals, a drought-resistant food source for both livestock and wildlife, and can help restore soils so they retain more water. The fast-growing shrub can also sequester a significant amount of carbon in a relatively short time frame. Learn more in this article published by BBC. 

The unprecedented loss of animals in the recent Australian wildfires cast a spotlight on the extent of biodiversity loss occurring as a result of climate change. Climate Crowd's Nikhil Advani joined a panel of experts on NPR's Kojo Nnamdi show to discuss this event and other climate-related threats facing wildlife. Listen to the full episode here.