Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a naturally occurring gas in the Earth’s atmosphere, formed through processes such as respiration and volcanic activity. However, human activities such as burning fossil fuels and biomass, land-use changes, and industrial processes have increased its concentration in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change. CO2 is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas, as it traps heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to a rise in global temperatures and resulting in the phenomenon of global warming. To measure the warming potential of other greenhouse gases, CO2 is used as the reference gas with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1. Understanding the sources, impacts, and control of CO2 emissions is critical for developing effective strategies to mitigate climate change and reduce the risks it poses to the planet and humanity.