Physical Address
23,24,25 & 26, 2nd Floor, Software Technology Park India, Opp: Garware Stadium,MIDC, Chikalthana, Aurangabad, Maharashtra – 431001 India
By Vivek Saini
Claim: We need more fossil fuels and CO2 emissions to help feed our ever-growing global population.
Fact: The claim that we need more fossil fuels and CO2 emissions to feed our growing population is inaccurate and misleading. There are numerous viable and sustainable options to increase food production without harming the planet.
Claim post:
What does the post say
In his viral X post, climate science contrarian Steve Milloy argues that we need more fossil fuels and CO2 emissions to ensure global food security. In his tweet, he has also included a graph demonstrating that atmospheric CO2 has been dangerously decreasing for 140 million years, reaching a critical threshold for vegetation survival.
What we found
Misleading and inaccurate. Steve Milloy’s claim is misleading and false. No evidence supports the claim that increased fossil fuel use and CO2 emissions are necessary for feeding a growing population. The reality is that climate change poses a significant threat to global food security. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and changing water availability can disrupt agricultural systems and lead to crop losses. Addressing climate change is crucial for ensuring long-term food security for a growing population. The truth in the context of the graph he shared is quite the opposite. The Permian-Triassic extinction event (The Great Dying) occurred 252 million years ago, during which 95% of marine species became extinct, and 70% of terrestrial life perished due to a massive increase in CO2.
Fossil fuels and food production
While some fertilizers rely on fossil fuels for production, their impact on overall crop yields is complex and varies depending on soil quality, water availability, and farming practices. Additionally, increasing CO2 levels can have negative consequences for plant growth and agriculture in the long run due to factors like increased heat stress and altered precipitation patterns.
The claim ignores existing evidence of sustainable food production methods. Advancements in agriculture, including crop diversification, precision farming techniques, and reduced food waste, can significantly improve food security without relying on fossil fuels or increasing CO2 emissions.
A 2018 study published in Nature found that while fertilizer use has increased food production, it has also contributed to significant environmental damage, including greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. The study concluded that sustainable intensification, which focuses on improving resource efficiency and reducing environmental impact, is essential for future food security.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the leading international body for assessing climate change, has repeatedly warned of the risks posed by climate change to food security. Their 2019 report on climate change and land use concluded that “climate change is affecting all aspects of food security, including availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability.”
What was the Permian-Triassic extinction event
Coming on to the Misleading graph posted by Steve Milloy, The Earth witnessed its most extensive extinction event Approximately 252 million years ago, concluding the Permian period. Preceding the era of dinosaurs, our planet housed diverse plants and animals, only to face widespread obliteration due to massive volcanic eruptions in Siberia. Examining fossils in ancient seafloor rocks unveils a once-thriving marine ecosystem abruptly replaced by a significant loss of life. The “Great Dying” Permian extinction eradicated approximately 90 percent of Earth’s species, comprising over 95 per cent of marine and 70 percent of terrestrial species. Additionally, over half of the taxonomic families existing during that period vanished. This extinction event holds the top position in terms of severity among the five major extinction episodes spanning geologic time.
What caused the Great Dying
Altered carbon cycle: Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels could have been exacerbated by volcanic ash clouds, limiting sunlight for photosynthesis and hindering plant carbon fixation. The release of volcanic gasses during flood basalt eruptions, ignition of coal seams, or forest burning by lava might have further contributed to substantial carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.
Temperature crises: Warmer water temperatures, between 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), might have been too hot for many sea creatures. Only those adapted to high temperatures, like those in shallow lagoons, may have survived. Another hypothesis suggests that the symbiotic organisms living within some marine creatures couldn’t handle the higher temperatures and left their hosts. Some evidence indicates a rise in seawater temperature of around 6°C (10.8 °F) near the Permian-Triassic boundary, possibly reaching about 30–32 °C (86–90 °F).
If you have any queries or come across suspicious content related to climate change or the environment and want us to verify them, send them to Climate Buddy, our WhatsApp tipline +91 70453 66366.
References:
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/05/210519163702.htm
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-18773-w
- https://www.ldc-climate.org/press_release/ipcc-1-5c-spacial-report/
- https://www.britannica.com/science/Permian-extinction
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0031018220302352
- https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article-pdf/134/3-4/1087/5546025/b36214.1.pdf
- https://academic.oup.com/nsr/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/nsr/nwad273/52556335/nwad273.pdf
Banner image
https://www.pexels.com/photo/dinosaur-fossil-on-rough-stone-formation-3839557/
