#13 / Mother Nature And The Chlorophyll Cure

I took basic chemistry when I was in high school, and although that was a long time ago, I remember the Periodic Table, and I know that C = Carbon and O = Oxygen, and that CO2, or Carbon Dioxide, is comprised of one Carbon atom and two Oxygen atoms, and that CO2 is the greenhouse gas, produced by the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels, that is putting life on Earth in peril, as we continue to emit huge amounts of this gas into our atmosphere. 

I also remember the basics of photosynthesis: “During oxygenic photosynthesis, light energy transfers electrons from water (H2O) to carbon dioxide (CO2), to produce carbohydrates. In this transfer, the CO2 is ‘reduced,’ or receives electrons, and the water becomes ‘oxidized,’ or loses electrons. Ultimately, oxygen is produced along with carbohydrates.” 

Plants with green leaves (colored by chlorophyll) carry out this process, which is essential to life on this planet. Chlorophyll is “a green pigment, present in all green plants and in cyanobacteria, responsible for the absorption of light to provide energy for photosynthesis. Its molecule contains a magnesium atom held in a porphyrin ring.”

I do not believe that it is appropriate for human beings to continue to burn hydrocarbon fuels, thus speeding the global warming that will, unless we change our behavior, put all life on Earth in danger, and that will almost certainly undermine any possibility that our human civilization will endure. 

So, what to do about this major challenge to humanity. First, as quickly as we can, we need to stop burning hydrocarbon fuels. That’s clear. Second, and I think that this is also clear, we need to mobilize Nature to assist us as we change our behavior. Trees help! So, we need to stop cutting them down. We also need to plant more. You could call this the “Chlorophyll Cure.” We need to plant billions of trees, and other plants, whose entire purpose in life is to eliminate CO2, and to produce carbohydrates and oxygen. 

You know, we could do this. But if we planted billions of trees, and other photosynthetic plants, we would have to take care of them. 

And that seems fair. If we will take care of Nature, Nature will take care of us.

We didn’t come up with that “Mother Nature” idea without good reason!

Image Credit:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/04/planting-billions-trees-best-tackle-climate-crisis-scientists-canopy-emissions