New research from James Cook University, the University of Exeter and ETH Zurich shows that ozone created by Amazon wildfires damages surviving trees and weakens the forest's ability to absorb carbon dioxide. Using nearly three decades of observations and a global vegetation model, the team found fire-driven ozone pollution reduces the Amazon's carbon uptake by an amount equal to about 24% of the carbon released by the fires themselves. The damage was nearly twice the previous decade's average during the 2023-24 drought, and an unusually large El Nino could make it worse this year. Most fires in the region are started by people for land clearing or agricultural management, which means much of the extra ozone damage is preventable. The authors argue that policies addressing deforestation and degradation can cut both direct fire emissions and the hidden carbon loss from ozone damage. The study highlights why air pollution, deforestation, and climate change need to be considered together when assessing the future of the Amazon.
