February 26, 2026 | 09:00 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The center of the world's green cover, or the balance point of Earth's vegetation, has reportedly shifted slowly toward the northeast over the past four decades. This migration is believed to be closely linked to the direct impacts of climate change, which are disrupting the global geographic balance.
An analysis of the changing green center was conducted by researchers from Leipzig University, including Miguel Mahecha. The scientist documented the precise trajectory of the vegetation balance point as it shifted over recent decades.
Mahecha stated that the balance point, which typically fluctuates between the Earth's two hemispheres, is now increasingly inclined toward northern and eastern regions. "If you then carefully place this globe into calm water, the centre of mass will always point downward," Mahecha explained, analogizing the phenomenon as reported by Earth on February 25, 2026.
According to the researchers, the pull toward the north is heavily influenced by carbon dioxide emissions, which trigger longer growing seasons and milder winters. Meanwhile, the shift toward the east is largely driven by human interventions, specifically agricultural expansion and massive reforestation efforts across the Asian region.
During the peak of summer, the ecological balance point is noted to move northward at a rate of approximately 1.2 to 1.5 miles per year. The contraction of the natural north-south flow is also believed to alter the ability of ecosystems to absorb carbon and release moisture into the atmosphere.
Many experts speculate that this imbalance in nature’s schedule could threaten migration, reproduction, and food chain sustainability for numerous animal species. Through research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists hope that global monitoring can assist in more targeted environmental conservation efforts.
"Less movement between hemispheres could change when ecosystems absorb carbon and release water, especially during hot, dry summers," the study report reads. "To see what might come next, the researchers ran the same metric through six major climate models."
Read: Climate Change Threatens Coffee-Growing Regions, Study Says
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