Does+Rising+CO2+Benefit+Plants?

Ask the Expert:Does Rising CO2 Benefit Plants?
 * Summary:**Many people who believe that we shouldn't cut down carbon dioxide emissions back up their argument by claiming that carbon dioxide stimulates photosynthesis, therefore increasing plant growth and quality. While carbon dioxide may help with photosynthesis, there are many more factors that come into play for their arguments to be true. For instance, nitrogen is a limiting factor in plant growth and so, if you just keep adding carbon dioxide but have a small amount of nitrogen, the plant can only grow as much as the nitrogen allows. Scientists have performed many experiments on these claims and found that yes, carbon dioxide helps. The only issue is that you need specific conditions for it to make a beneficial difference.


 * Relation To Class:** "Another uncertainty is the effect of increased CO2 on photosynthesis" (Miller pg 507). We still have much to learn concerning global warming and air pollutants, since this has only been occurring for mere decades. But based off the textbook similar answers appeared, "Other studies suggest that this effect varies with different types of plants and in different climate zones."(Miller 507) This year we have learned that ecosystems are complicated, the way abiotic and biotic factors behave are complicated, and "simple solutions" simply don't exist. Air pollutants are an issue, and can be a major limiting factor in plant growth.


 * Opinion:** I believe that we cannot rely on one aspect of plant growth to solve the rest of our issues. There is a balance and optimum range of a substance for each organism. The world isn't linear, everything is exponential or a bell curve. Believing that the more carbon dioxide we release, the better because it may "stimulate plant growth" is an erroneous claim. When making environmental decisions you have to look at the bigger picture. Based on the fact that nitrogen is a main limiting factor on plant growth, fertilizer helps supply that for agricultural crops, but not wildlife. Sure, corn is growing great this year but for what? The expense it may have on the health of thousands of organisms?


 * Law:**This issue correlates most with the //Pollution Prevention Act of 1990//, a federal law which states that when possible pollution should be prevented by recycling and/or taking care on in an environmentally safe manner. The people who believe that carbon dioxide is good for the environment are the same people that don't want to attempt cutting down on emissions, for fear of costs. This act, although helpful, should be more strict against businesses in order to prevent more pollution.