Reduce CO2

Facts and Figures

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The natural carbon cycle

The quantity of CO2 caused by human activity disrupts the natural equilibrium.

The greenhouse gases emitted by humans disrupt the natural balance between radiation and emission of the Earth. CO2 emissions have increased by more than 40% compared topre-industrial age. The share of other greenhouse gases released by human activity has also increased. As a result the Earth’s surface has become warmer by 1°C since industrialisation began in the mid-19th century.

Too much CO2 has negative consequences for our climate

CO2 is the chemical formula for the molecule carbon dioxide, also known as carbon dioxide, which consists of carbon and oxygen.

The gas carbon dioxide (CO2) is colorless, easily soluble in water, non-flammable, odorless and non-toxic. Alongside nitrogen, oxygen and the so-called noble gases, it is a natural component of the air and is one of the most important greenhouse gases.

It is a natural by-product of cellular respiration in many living organisms and is also produced when humans burn wood, coal, oil or gas.
Carbon dioxide is also released during the decay of dead organisms or from natural sources of CO2 (e.g. volcanic gases).

Due to the large increase in CO2 levels in our atmosphere, less and less of the heat emitted by the earth can escape into space. As a result, the Earth’s climate is warming and the polar ice caps and glaciers are melting. As a result, the water level of the oceans is rising. Climate change is partly responsible for the increase in extreme weather phenomena such as heatwaves and droughts.