Plants, Drugs, and CO2
Plants are greatly affected by climate change. In order to grow, plants need light, nutrients (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), water, and carbon dioxide. This last item is an essential part of what makes life on earth possible – plants take in CO2 and put out the oxygen that we breathe.
Recent understanding of photosynthesis has revealed that plants grow larger when exposed to higher amounts of CO2, an environment that already exists as a result of current climate outcomes. However, bigger does not necessarily mean better. Research has also shown that while CO2 increases the size of plants we grow for food, it also makes them less nutritious, causing them to have less zinc, iron, protein, and other important vitamins and minerals. Decreased nutritional content in food could be potentially devastating for human life on Earth, as over 80% of the human diet is derived from plants.
Food is not the only sector influenced by the changing production of plants. Over 100 medicines, as well as both common and prescription drugs are procured directly from plants. Up to 50% of approved drugs since the 1980s come from plants. over-the-counter drugs, such as aspirin, immunosuppressives, and medications for common illnesses, also exist thanks to having plants as their base.
Climate change is also believed to have adverse effects on the incidence of disease, meaning that future diseases could be more common and more deadly. If the ability to produce drugs is reduced due to less productive plants, or if those drugs are less potent, there is a risk of having ineffective medication to deal with future disease outbreaks, and even recurring illnesses like the common cold.
Furthermore, climate change will exacerbate preexisting conditions in individuals who suffer from heart disease, respiratory disease, and other chronic illnesses. The changing climate will bring more particulate matter and more greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, worsening conditions for those who suffer from them. Plants provide natural remedies to these phenomena by producing oxygen and assisting in recovery from damaging disasters.
All of these negative effects can be reduced by addressing the human activities that contribute to climate change. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially CO2, will allow plants to thrive naturally and not overly adjust for these human-driven changes. Given the great importance of plants to human health and our ecosystems, prioritizing these outcomes will ensure an adequate food supply, as well as a continued accessible supply of medications.
