Saving the Planet

Climate change is now being linked to certain catastrophic natural events such as deadly
floods, wildfires, and record heat waves. Climate change is linked to increased emission of
greenhouse gases. If a solution is to be found, it has to be on reducing the emissions or absorbing
more of these gases from the atmosphere. According to Joanne Chory, “human-caused climate
change was putting humanity’s future in peril” (Kaplan, 2021). Humans have to act fast to ensure
that the Earth’s original carbon-capture machines help in getting rid of greenhouse gases. Chory
had an idea. Plants absorb carbon from the atmosphere. If only humans could come up with
plants that could absorb more of this carbon and store it in their roots, then the problem of
climate change could slowly be solved. Plants have the potential to save the world from the
impending peril related to climate change if their capacity to absorb more carbon is increased
and their mechanism changed such that the carbon is not released back to the atmosphere but is
stored in roots.
The idea of using photosynthesis, a natural process, to save the world from the dangers of
climate change is like a miracle. Chory describes photosynthesis as a natural process powered by
sunshine. It has this incredible ability to convert carbon dioxide and water into green leaves,
beautiful petals, and huge tree trunks. The Earth owes its existence to this simple process of
photosynthesis. Other than its ability to provide food to plants, photosynthesis is a process that
shields humans from the consequences of their own actions. Statistics show that each passing
year plants take up to 25% of the total global warming gasses that human beings emit (Kaplan,
2021). This is such a huge amount. In other words, the world relies heavily on plants to survive
the effects of global warming. Climate change has already destroyed lives and ecosystems. The
effects could be worse without the contribution of plants in reducing the intensity of these gases.

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Tapping into the potential of plants to save the planet is one thing that could make a
difference. In the article, Chory states that she thought she could make a difference by tapping
into this potential. She remarks, “plants are pretty cool. They’re like a silent partner in all of this,
but nobody ever pays attention to them” (Kaplan, 2021). She, too, had overlooked the role of
plants. However, when she started paying attention to them, she realized that she could use
genetic mutation to make them even more impactful in solving the climate change problem.
Other scholars also agree with Chory’s sentiments. According to Tkemaladze & Makhashvili
(2016), the world of plants plays a significant role in the survival of human beings in a world that
is facing the growing threat of global warming. While the world of plants is also affected by the
changes in climate, it still absorbs a certain percentage of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
and, to some extent, controls the rate of global warming.
While Chory’s idea was good, and it appealed to many organizations who were willing to
fund it, it remained just that, an idea. She was determined to use plants to reverse the effects of
global warming. Besides, the worst had started happening with the climate crisis escalating at
such an alarming rate. In 2011, the world experienced a catastrophe after tends of thousands of
people died of hunger in East Africa. Hurricane Sandy then struck and caused devastating effects
on the East Coast. By December 2013, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
had surpassed the 400 parts per million level (Kaplan, 2021). 2014 was recorded as the warmest
year, and then 2016 recorded even higher levels of temperature. Despite the rapid escalation,
Chory’s plant to use plants to save the world remained just that, ideas. It was not enough for
Chory to say that plants were the solution. She had to act accordingly and come up with plants to
achieve what she had promised the world that she could do using plants.

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There is an urgency to reduce emissions by at least 50% in the next few years to save the
planet. A report by the UN shows that the world is on a pathway to global warming of more than
double 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit or 1.5 degrees (United Nations, 2022). According to research, it is
important to halve emissions by 2030 (United Nations, 2022). Chory could have been motivated
by the call of urgency by scientists. They seem to agree that if the world does not experience
deep and immediate reductions in emissions, then it will be impossible to control the global
temperatures. The urge to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to reach net-zero and consequently
stabilize global temperatures motivated Chory to do something to save the planet. However, she
is yet to create the ideal plant that she envisioned.
The plans to develop the ideal plant were thwarted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Chory
hoped to develop the ideal and, within five years, conduct trials and persuade influential people
such as politicians to support the idea and get on board. By 2030, Chory had thought that she
would have the ideal crops occupying about half a million acres of land (Kaplan, 2021). This
way, the plants would take up much of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, the
pandemic struck, and everything changed. Chory’s lab was shuttered by the pandemic. Chory’s
plan of saving the planet might remain just that, an idea. In the article, she admits that the
momentum was lost, and the team was disoriented. Now she has to keep cheering the team.
While the change in the plan could have affected Chory and the team, the idea still remains alive.
As the world resumes normalcy from the pandemic, she could still achieve her dream of using
plants to save the planet.
Overall, while scientists such as Chory come up with innovative ideas o how to save the
planet, the problem should be addressed from its source. The world should devise ways to reduce
emissions so that even as Chory comes up with ideal plants to absorb carbon dioxide from the

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atmosphere, she does not have to compete with increasing emissions. The envisions of an ideal
future where people engage in sustainable practices and live in safer small houses can be
achieved. If everyone across the world comes on board and joins people like Chory, then the
world can eventually overcome the threat of global warming. If Chory successfully creates ideal
plants and people populate their fields with engineered plants, then lesser carbon dioxide will be
left in the atmosphere, and the planet will be able to stabilize its temperatures. The threat of
global warming must be a global responsibility where everyone plays their role in making the
planet a better place.

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References

Kaplan, S. (2021). Joanne Chory is using plants to save the planet. The Washington Post.
Retrieved 9 May 2022, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-
solutions/interactive/2021/joanne-chory-climate-plants/.
Tkemaladze, G. S., & Makhashvili, K. A. (2016). Climate changes and photosynthesis. Annals of
agrarian science, 14(2), 119-126.
United Nations. (2022). UN climate report: It’s ‘now or never’ to limit global warming to 1.5
degrees. UN News. Retrieved 9 May 2022, from
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/04/1115452.