Carbon: the back story
Carbon is an essential resource and one of the major building blocks for life. The climate problem arises when there is too much ‒ as a gas ‒ in the atmosphere.
Carbon is a shapeshifter and exists in:
![Fungi growing on tree](/sites/default/files/styles/12_11_media_small/public/2021-06/fungi-on-tree.jpg?h=a199048f&itok=NdE-i8ZB 375w, /sites/default/files/styles/12_11_media_medium/public/2021-06/fungi-on-tree.jpg?h=a199048f&itok=WKSh0wb1 570w, /sites/default/files/styles/12_11_media_large/public/2021-06/fungi-on-tree.jpg?h=a199048f&itok=6zQ8EQYl 730w, /sites/default/files/styles/12_11_media_x_large/public/2021-06/fungi-on-tree.jpg?h=a199048f&itok=d-CnGc9d 860w)
1. Organic compounds
Carbon comes in various combinations with oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and other elements. These compounds build plants, fungi, microbes and animals – including us and the ‘once living’: such as wood, soil organic matter, peat and limestone (from seashells).
![Diamond ring](/sites/default/files/styles/12_11_media_small/public/2021-10/diamond-ring.jpg?h=cb375287&itok=fVRz0T9s 375w, /sites/default/files/styles/12_11_media_medium/public/2021-10/diamond-ring.jpg?h=cb375287&itok=gH6HRev8 570w, /sites/default/files/styles/12_11_media_large/public/2021-10/diamond-ring.jpg?h=cb375287&itok=QPZ2ZY7f 730w, /sites/default/files/styles/12_11_media_x_large/public/2021-10/diamond-ring.jpg?h=cb375287&itok=h0D5dJkE 860w)
2. Pure solid forms
Carbon is what graphite and diamonds are made from (yep, diamonds!)
![Bubbles in water](/sites/default/files/styles/25_17_media_small/public/2021-10/bubbles-in-water.jpg?h=0934b02e&itok=37DYBki4 500w, /sites/default/files/styles/25_17_media_large/public/2021-10/bubbles-in-water.jpg?h=0934b02e&itok=VOLkN5tn 1000w)
3. A gas
Carbon combines with oxygen to make carbon dioxide (CO2) and with hydrogen to make methane (CH4). Plants combine the gas carbon dioxide (CO2), with water and sunshine to make energy food (carbs) and life’s building blocks.
The carbon-based gases are also Earth warmers:
![Snow](/sites/default/files/styles/12_11_media_small/public/2021-10/snow.jpg?h=6f8e8448&itok=9yTwvbrp 375w, /sites/default/files/styles/12_11_media_medium/public/2021-10/snow.jpg?h=6f8e8448&itok=TM429OHb 570w, /sites/default/files/styles/12_11_media_large/public/2021-10/snow.jpg?h=6f8e8448&itok=U3MkkrMo 730w, /sites/default/files/styles/12_11_media_x_large/public/2021-10/snow.jpg?h=6f8e8448&itok=Vw5grvVw 860w)
Snow
No atmospheric CO2 results in average global temperatures of around minus 18˚C (brrr).
![Beach and sea with seagulls flying across a sunset](/sites/default/files/styles/25_17_media_small/public/2021-10/sky-sun-sea-birds.jpg?h=f8f9971c&itok=_nfy_BDy 500w, /sites/default/files/styles/25_17_media_large/public/2021-10/sky-sun-sea-birds.jpg?h=f8f9971c&itok=lLSCWPhg 1000w)
Pre-industrial Revolution
Pre-industrial Revolution CO2 levels were around 280 parts per million (ppm). The average global temperature was about 13.6˚C (just right).
![Forest on fire](/sites/default/files/styles/12_11_media_small/public/2021-10/forest-fire.jpg?h=5e08a8b6&itok=rWVSzFxA 375w, /sites/default/files/styles/12_11_media_medium/public/2021-10/forest-fire.jpg?h=5e08a8b6&itok=rYmcZMal 570w, /sites/default/files/styles/12_11_media_large/public/2021-10/forest-fire.jpg?h=5e08a8b6&itok=WMVGkMkY 730w, /sites/default/files/styles/12_11_media_x_large/public/2021-10/forest-fire.jpg?h=5e08a8b6&itok=1CXQwLs_ 860w)
Today
Today CO2 levels are 417 ppm and rising. The average global temperature is 15˚C which is getting too hot!
![Coal](/sites/default/files/styles/25_17_media_small/public/2021-10/coal.jpg?h=74be136f&itok=OG-UyA2K 500w, /sites/default/files/styles/25_17_media_large/public/2021-10/coal.jpg?h=74be136f&itok=ESduK2Mo 1000w)
Carbon is a resource not a toxin. Currently we just need more in a solid, rather than a gaseous, form.
Climate Evolution
Climate Revolution
![Illustration showing how carbon needs re-balancing](/sites/default/files/styles/16_9_media_tiny/public/2021-10/carbon-rebalance-illustration.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=fHXiyl80 480w, /sites/default/files/styles/16_9_media_small/public/2021-10/carbon-rebalance-illustration.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=9drckusN 750w, /sites/default/files/styles/16_9_media_medium/public/2021-10/carbon-rebalance-illustration.jpg?h=d1cb525d&itok=Wkqzdomk 1000w)