Carbon dioxide may aid growth in plants while their need for water is reduced. For the first time in three years, carbon dioxide concentration exceeded 400 parts per million. Australian researchers say that partial benefits from the climate change may offset some of its negative effects. Areas with annual rainfall below 400 millimeters can benefit the most from the increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

In those regions we can see a clear increase over the past 30 years. Over a period when CO2 levels have gone up about 14-18 per cent, it's as if the rainfall had increased 11 per cent.

However, the plants still need other key nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen to grow effectively. According to Dr. Mark Howden of CSIRO, the studies conducted by ANU have their limitations.

"Without those nutrients they can't grow faster and more effectively take advantage of that additional carbon dioxide," he said.

He considers the benefits of the increased CO2 in agriculture production, but he is not convinced of its significance.

Read the full article on climate change by John Anderson at The Naked Scientists