Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a chemical that includes one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms formed by the complete combustion of carbon compounds, such as woody biomass or fossil fuels, or from respiration of living beings, like plants and animals. It is a greenhouse gas and one of the main drivers behind climate change.

Also CO2 in high concentrations can be toxic for humans, or dissolved in water can create carbonic acid which can become acid rain, or causes problems for plants and animals

When planning for appropriate technologies, like fireplaces, its important to plan for how the CO2 will leave the location through proper ventilation

Moreover, if you want to reduce the impact of your project on climate change, you want to consider the carbon dioxide created in your supply chain, and the ultimate amount of CO2 that you store in the building materials or soil used in the project.

CO2 is moderately soluble in water; it is the acid-anhydride of carbonic acid. In other words, solutions of carbon dioxide are acidic. Carbon dioxide reacts with water to form carbonic acid, H2CO3; however the reaction is not complete - most of the carbon dioxide exists in solution as CO2 molecules.

The phase [solid/liquid/gas/plasma phases] diagram for CO2 shows that at one Atmosphere [1 atm] of pressure CO2 has a freezing point temperature of -78.5 degrees C. CO2 like most substances contracts upon freezing.

However, upon thawing, CO2 sublimates - it trans-phases directly from Solid to Vapor.

Increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere trap more of the sun's heat, raising average temperatures and changing climate patterns - i.e. causing climate change.

This is due to human activity, releasing carbon underground trapped in fossil fuels.

There are other chemical atmospheric discharges that are more actively greenhouse gases than carbon, yet the effects of these are 'side-lined' when put up against our incessantly increasing deposition of CO₂ - into Our One and Only Paper Thin Atmosphere.

Most of the carbon dioxide people add to the air comes from burning fossil fuels. Making electricity is the biggest single source. In 2024, power plants around the world released a record 14.6 billion tonnes of CO₂.^[1]

Making cement is another big source. It causes nearly 8% of the world's CO₂, mostly from heating limestone in very hot kilns.^[2] To see the biggest sources near you, Climate TRACE has a free, open map of emissions from power plants, factories and other sites around the world.

• Use less energy with energy efficiency improvements, so that any energy used is not wasted.
• Use the sun to provide heat such as with a solar cooker or a solar water heater.
• Build with less cement. Earth building methods such as rammed earth can replace some concrete, and materials like wood or other biomass lock in carbon into the built environment.
• Plant trees. Reforestation takes carbon dioxide back out of the air through photosynthesis.
• Use organic products like biochar to store carbon in the soil or in your construction materials so that it doesn't get released as CO2.