Weeds Rule In Warmer World

As the earth warms, one type of plant will flourish: the weed. The New York Times Magazine describes how higher levels of CO₂ in the atmosphere and warmer temperatures are a growth elixir for invasive plants and trees such as kudzu, cheatgrass, ailanthus, Norway maple, and mulberry. The article focuses on a U.S. government scientist who used inner-city Baltimore — with its higher temperatures and elevated greenhouse gas levels — to replicate how weeds will fare under conditions of global warming. The answer? Many grow twice as tall as under current conditions. The good news, the article says, is that this accelerated growth could be harnessed to grow weeds such as kudzu and cheatgrass as biofuels.