Common arguments
Is CO2 just plant food, so more is good?
Plants really do need CO2 to grow, so more sounds helpful. Here is why that does not hold up.
Why it sounds plausible
Plants really do need CO2 to grow, so more sounds helpful.
The simple answer
Plants need CO2, but unlimited CO2 is not automatically harmless.
The fuller explanation
Plant growth also depends on water, nutrients, heat, soil, pests and extreme weather. More CO2 can help some plants in controlled conditions, but real ecosystems and farming systems face many stresses at once, and a hotter, more volatile climate works against them.
Bottom line
Plants need CO2 is true but incomplete.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
Plants need CO2 is true but incomplete.
Plants need CO2, but unlimited CO2 is not automatically harmless.