V It is a chemical compound composed of

two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a

single carbon atom. CO2 is a trace gas comprising
0.039% of the atmosphere. As part of the carbon
cycle known as photosynthesis, plants, algae,
and cyano bacteria absorb carbon dioxide, sunlight,
and water to produce carbohydrate energy for
themselves and oxygen as a waste product. By contrast,
during respiration they emit carbon dioxide, as do all
other living things that depend either directly or
indirectly on plants for food. Carbon dioxide is also
generated as a by-product of combustion; emitted
from volcanoes, hot springs, and geysers; and freed
from carbonate rocks by dissolution.
V —umans use carbon dioxide in many different ways.
The most familiar example is its use in soft drinks and
beer, to make them fizzy. Carbon dioxide released by
baking powder or yeast makes cake batter rise.
V Some fire extinguishers use carbon dioxide because it is
denser than air
V Carbon dioxide is also used in a technology called
supercritical fluid extraction that is used to decaffeinate
coffee.
V The solid form of carbon dioxide, commonly known as
Dry Ice, is used in theatres to create stage fogs and
make things like "magic potions" bubble.
V Carbon dioxide is one of the most abundant gasses in
the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide plays an important
part in vital plant and animal process, such as
photosynthesis and respiration.
V
The reaction of photosynthesis is as follows:
6 CO2 + 6 —2O --> C6— 2O6 + 6 O2

The respiration reaction is as follows:

C6— 2O6 + 6 O2 --> 6 CO2 + 6 —2O
V Photosynthesis and respiration play an important role
in the carbon cycle and are at equilibrium with one
another.
V —umans have been increasing the amount of carbon
dioxide in air by burning of fossil fuels
V By producing cement
V By carrying out land clearing and forest combustion
V 22% of the current atmospheric CO2 concentrations
exist due to these human activities
V Carbon dioxide is essential for internal respiration
in a human body. Internal respiration is a process,
by which oxygen is transported to body tissues
and carbon dioxide is carried away from them.

V Apart from being an essential buffer in the human

system, carbon dioxide is also known to cause
health effects when the concentrations exceed a
certain limit.
V The primary health dangers of carbon dioxide
are:

V Asphyxiation
V Frostbite
V Kidney damage or coma
V The largest source of CO2 emissions globally is
the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil
and gas in power plants, automobiles,
industrial facilities and other sources.

V A number of specialized industrial production

processes and product uses such as mineral
production, metal production and the use of
petroleum-based products can also lead to
CO2 emissions.
V Carbon sequestration is the process by which
growing trees and plants absorb or remove
CO2 from the atmosphere and turn it into biomass
(e.g., wood, leaves, etc.). Deforestation, conversely,
can lead to significant levels of CO2 emissions in
some countries.

V Carbon dioxide can be captured from power plants

and industrial facilities before it is released into the
atmosphere, and then injected deep underground.
V Production and consumption of mineral products such
as cement, lime and soda ash
V Production of metals such as iron and steel, aluminum,
zinc and lead
V Chemical production (e.g., ammonia, petrochemicals
and titanium dioxide)
V Consumption of petroleum products in feed stocks and
other end-uses
V ãlobal warming is caused by the emission of
greenhouse gases . 72% of the totally emitted
greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide (CO2),
%
Methane and 9% Nitrous oxide (NOx). Carbon dioxide
emissions therefore are the most important cause of
global warming. CO2 is inevitably created by burning
fuels like e.g. oil, natural gas, diesel, organic-diesel,
petrol, organic-petrol, ethanol. The emissions of CO2
have been dramatically increased within the last 50
years and are still increasing by almost 3% each year,
see graph below:
ãraph. CO2-emissions world-
wide by year (data from
wri.org)
V The carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere where it remains for 00
to 200 years. This leads to an increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in
our atmosphere which in turn causes the average temperature on Earth to
raise.
V The carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere where it remains for 00
to 200 years. This leads to an increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in
our atmosphere which in turn causes the average temperature on Earth to
raise.
V Èises in sea level of as much as three feet across the
globe, flooding land where millions of people now live

V Impacts on agriculture - ãlobal warming could have

major effects on agricultural productivity

V Èeduction of the ozone layer - Warming would result

in increase high cloud cover in winter, giving chemical
reactions a platform in the atmosphere, which could
result in depletion of the ozone layer
V Increased extreme weather - A warmer climate could
change the weather systems of the earth, meaning
there would be more droughts and floods, and more
frequent and stronger storms
V Spread of diseases - Diseases would be able to spread
to areas which were previously too cold for them to
survive in
V Ecosystem change - As with the diseases, the range of
plants and animals would change, with the net effect of
most organisms moving towards the North and South
Poles
V Èeductions in rainfall across vast areas where crops are
now grown
V The melting of many glaciers and a rise in snow
elevations, affecting water supplies across the globe
V Storms including hurricanes of increasing intensity and
frequency
V Extinction of animal and plant
species as the pace of change in
habitat driven by global warming
outstrips their ability to adjust
V World leaders gathered in Kyoto, Japan, in December
997 to consider a world treaty restricting emissions of
greenhouse gases, mainly of carbon dioxide, that are
thought to cause global warming. Unfortunately, while
the Kyoto treaties have worked for a while America is
now trying to evade them.
- Its mission is "to halt and reverse the
destruction of our environment´
- Currently, much of its work focuses on the
conservation of three biomes that contain most
of the world's biodiversity: forests, freshwater
ecosystems, and oceans and coasts. Among
other issues, it is also concerned with
endangered species, pollution and climate
change.
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- (formerly
the ß ropean reen ßlectricity ' twork) It was
designed to encourage the generation and use of
additional renewable energy sources for electricity
generation, although the limited use of
additional natural gas-fired cogeneration plant
was also supported.
V ß
 - global event organized by WWF and
is held on the last Saturday of March annually,
asking households and businesses to turn off their
non-essential lights and other electrical appliances
for one hour to raise awareness towards the need
to take action on climate change.
V Changing to energy efficient light bulbs or not leaving
your TV on standby
V Èeduce the amount of animal products you consume
(meat, dairy, eggs, leather, etc.)
V Èeduce the amount of fuel you use (car, air travel, etc.)
V Èeduce the amount of electricity you use
V For short distance travels, it is best to walk, skateboard,
roller skate or bike. This promotes better health, and
decreased carbon emissions.
V Practice carpooling to minimize carbon emissions, and
road congestion.
V In buying a car, choose one which uses less gasoline
and/or diesel but still provides longer mileage. Better
yet, choose a car with an eco-friendly engine.
V Find a way to use biofuel to power your vehicle,
instead of gasoline or diesel. Biofuel use reduces the
consumption of fossil fuel, a major contributor to
global warming.
V Or more major changes like giving up your car!