Nature · 21 October 2026 · From issue 55
Amazon carbon emissions driven by human actions amplified by droughts
The Amazon now releases more carbon than it absorbs, mostly from fires and deforestation.
Luciana V. Gatti, Camilla L. Cunha et al.
For 15 years, scientists measured carbon dioxide in the air above the Amazon. They found the forest now releases about 0.32 billion tons of carbon each year, mainly from fires. Cutting down trees and damaging forests keeps emissions high even in calm years. Hot, dry years, often tied to El Nino, push emissions even higher through bigger fires.
The average yearly carbon release from the Amazon over 15 years, based on air measurements.
Air measurements only, over 15 years, cannot pin exact causes.
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