Carbon is the building block of all life forms, from the smallest plankton in the ocean to the largest tree on land. Animals eat plants and use carbon to build their bodies. Carbon is released as a gas when animals breathe out or when they die. Fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, are the remains of ancient forests and are also made from carbon.
Plants release oxygen into the atmosphere; this makes life as we know it possible. To do this, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air through a process called photosynthesis, capturing it in their cells or adding it to the soil. Oxygen is a product of photosynthesis.
Carbon is everywhere. It is in plants, animals, the soil, the atmosphere and human beings. Nature maintains a balance of this element through the “carbon cycle.” There are “sinks” that take up and store carbon, such as plants, soil and the ocean. Carbon is also released into the atmosphere, as living organisms respire or decompose; these are called “sources.” Carbon naturally moves through these sources and sinks to form the carbon cycle.
Carbon in the atmosphere, in the form of carbon dioxide and methane, keeps the planet at a comfortable temperature for life. Carbon dioxide and methane are known as greenhouse gases and trap heat. They form a blanket around the planet, keeping the temperature stable.
Human actions are pushing the carbon cycle out of balance. When people burn fossil fuels, such as oil, coal and natural gas, carbon dioxide and methane are released into the atmosphere. At the same time, many forests and other natural communities that could absorb the extra carbon dioxide are being destroyed. The extra carbon building up in the atmosphere is warming the planet rapidly. This is called climate change. Heat waves, floods and droughts are some of the effects of climate change.
The carbon cycle is out of balance due to human activities, however, there’s still hope. Trees capture carbon and store it, healing the land and the air. If we work together, we can draw down carbon from the air, capturing it in living material and soil, where it belongs.
Some actions you can take to reduce your personal carbon footprint include:
Learn more about the key elements that make life on our planet possible, and take actionable steps toward balancing the carbon cycle.
