Carbon Focus

The main focus of global warming is the increase in the emissions of carbon dioxide – simplifying the science...the greater the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere the hotter our planet will become.

Therefore, in order to obtain the full picture on global warming it is important to briefly describe the importance that carbon dioxide plays in the story. Firstly, the element of carbon is the ultimate building block for all life on Earth. It forms everything from carbohydrates, proteins and fats, to leaves, woods, bones and hair. All living things contain carbon. The major consequence of burning something that was once alive is that you will then release the carbon it contained, usually in the form of carbon dioxide.

That is what happens when you burn oil, coal and natural gas – otherwise known as fossil fuels, because they are the fossilised remains of animals and plants that lived millions of years ago and until the Industrial Revolution these were buried safely underground. Since people began throwing coal on to their fires or using or using it to power steam engines, man has been increasing the natural levels of carbon dioxide. Unfortunately, the discovery of oil and natural gas has accelerated the process. The way we live our lives has meant that we all contribute a little more carbon dioxide each time we use a gas-fired cooker or central heating boiler or fill up our car with petrol – not to mention the emissions from power stations fuelled by coal, gas or oil.