In the same way, you would not want to be with someone who does not treat you well, you also don’t want to be with carbon dioxide if it isn’t going to treat your atmosphere well.
This article will explain how CO2 is bad for your planet’s atmosphere and why it should not be given another chance. After all, we are already in enough trouble as it is–we don’t need the extra stress of having to constantly worry about whether our atmosphere will remain safe or not.
Introduction
It may seem like an odd way to start out, but this blog post will be about something most people would never want to talk about – carbon dioxide. More specifically, why it is so bad for the planet and why we should do all that we can to reduce the amount of it in the atmosphere.
If you’re wondering how I’m going to make the argument that CO2 is bad or terrible for us, please read on. My argument revolves around the fact that CO2 has a higher heat-trapping capacity than other gases such as methane or nitrous oxide.
CO2 Data For Humans
The good news is that CO2 levels have decreased in the past decade and are currently below 400 parts per million (ppm). The bad news is that CO2 levels are not decreasing as quickly as we need them to in order to reverse climate change.
In fact, the rate at which atmospheric CO2 levels will double from here until 2100 if left unchecked, would be unprecedented in human history and could lead to catastrophic consequences for life on Earth as we know it. We can avoid this by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane.
For example, solar power, wind energy, and electric cars reduce carbon dioxide emissions while also cutting other air pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides by more than 95%.
Temperature Records Around the World
The temperature records from around the world tell an alarming story of how carbon dioxide has been sabotaging our planet’s atmosphere. As we keep adding more and more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, global temperatures will continue to rise, melting away polar ice caps, and causing sea levels to rise by as much as six feet in just 50 years.
The effects on wildlife could be devastating with many species being at risk of extinction if they are unable to adapt quickly enough to their new environment. We cannot afford to wait any longer. It’s time to start making changes now before it is too late.
The Effects of CO2 on Plants & Animals
Carbon dioxide is the invisible culprit in global warming. It makes up roughly 0.04% of Earth’s atmosphere and without it, Earth would be an uninhabitable snowball of ice and snow, but too much of it can create some serious environmental problems too!
The effects of carbon dioxide on plants and animals are less well known than its effects on climate change. Plants need carbon dioxide to live (hence the name plant food). The more CO2 there is in the air, the faster they grow; if we keep adding CO2 to the air as we have been, plants will grow better than ever before which sounds great until you think about all that extra plant matter decomposing over time.
Ecosystem Changes Due to Increased CO2
As CO2 levels rise, the earth’s ecosystems are changing dramatically. The global temperature has risen by about 1°C since the start of the industrial revolution, and it will continue to rise as more CO2 is released into the atmosphere. In response, plants have been releasing less CO2 through photosynthesis in order to conserve water. Forests have become noticeably thinner because trees are dying at an accelerated rate due to increased heat from global warming. Corals in the oceans that provide habitat for other marine life and protect shorelines from erosion may not survive past 2050 if their rate of decline continues unchecked.
Other Greenhouse Gases and Their Roles in Climate Change
Nitrous oxide, methane, and ozone are three other greenhouse gases that have similar effects on the climate as carbon dioxide. Nitrous oxide, or N2O, is about 300 times more potent than CO2 but only lasts for about 120 years in the atmosphere before breaking down into harmless nitrate molecules in the soil. Methane has a global warming potential of 28 to 36 over 100 years and lasts 9-12 years before breaking down. Ozone has been found to be harmful to human health when emitted in high concentrations but is beneficial when released at low levels (in the stratosphere) because it shields us from UV radiation from the sun and prevents it from reaching Earth’s surface where it would otherwise harm plants, animals, and humans alike.
Negativity at its Worst
Carbon dioxide (CO2) has been a bad date to Earth’s environment, but not just because it causes global warming. CO2 has also been found to cause ocean acidification, which can have devastating effects on marine life and coral reefs. Additionally, CO2 increases the rate of climate change by trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere.
The problem with CO2 is that there are no easy ways to get rid of it; we will only be able to stop its harmful effects when we find an alternative energy source that doesn’t emit any carbon at all.
Unfortunately, this means that until then, we are stuck dealing with what many believe to be the most harmful molecule in human history.
What Can We Do About It?
First and foremost, we can stop the burning of fossil fuels that produce CO2 at alarming rates. Second, we can plant new trees to absorb some of the CO2 that has already been emitted into the air. Third, we can buy goods made from recycled materials or goods made from renewable resources (such as hemp). Fourth, we can all start using less plastic and try to recycle what little plastic waste there is.
Fifth, we can turn off lights when they are not in use and avoid leaving them on when needed. Sixth, we can drive less by carpooling more often or taking public transportation like buses or trains instead of driving alone. Seventh, we can put pressure on politicians to make these changes happen sooner rather than later because time is running out!
