CO2-Carbon Dioxide

What is Carbon Dioxide? Our science book tells us that it is the most important molecule for the existence of life on Earth. CO2 combined with H2O in photosynthesis creates carbohydrates, which is the basis of bio-available energy for animal life on earth. On the other hand, on August 16, 2022, as part of the Democrats’ massive clean energy spending package, President Joe Biden signed into law an amendment under the Clean Air Act under Title VI, which defines carbon dioxide, as a "greenhouse" pollution, along side methane, hydrofluorocarbons, nitrous oxide, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.

What are the effects of CO2? Let us look at it again—first from the perspective photosynthesis

1. Understanding photosynthesis

It is important to understand photosynthesis to appreciate how life once emerged, which is something that is taught early at school. Three things are necessary for the creation of life and it happens through photosynthesis—energy (=the Sun), water and CO2. The reason why vegetation is unusually abundant in roadside ditches, is because that’s where there is extra supply of CO2 (car emissions).

When photosynthesis occurs in plants, oxygen is emitted from them as a residual product, which we need to breath. Consequently, the more CO2, the more oxygen. It is important to understand that without CO2, the earth dies. It is actually worse than that. At the last glacial maximum, earth’s CO2 was at 150ppm. At levels of 150–200 ppm (parts per million) of CO2 in the air, plants (and thus by extension animals) begin to die. This is a scientific fact.

Is there too much CO2 today? In the diagram below, you see the CO2 content in geological times.

This is a 570-million year record of carbon dioxide and global temperatures. It shows that while temperature rises and falls with no distinct trend, CO2 has a net decline of more than 95%, to the level of 280ppm, before human emissions began to increase it. From Nasir Nahle “cycles of Global Climate Change”, Biology Cabinet journal Online, July 2009

400 ppm can sound like a lot, which is probably the reason for using this unit. However, 400 ppm is only 4 parts out of 10,000 parts in the atmosphere. The increase in CO2 that has been seen in the last few hundred years, since the small ice age ended sometime in the late 18th century, represents only 1 additional part (1/10,000) and of this mankind contributes merely about one fifth (1/50,000). The rest is an effect of CO2 being released by nature itself (just the oceans include 50 times more CO2 than atmosphere) when the climate becomes warmer (warmer climate heats the earth and releases captured CO2). This means that humans influence only 1⁄5 part out of 10,000 parts when CO2 is increased from 3 to 4 parts (out of 10000). It may be sensible to look at the longer trend of CO2 level and compare it to the timelines typically used in current debates, which is usually limited to 100-300 years. Take a look at the diagram below and consider the perspective in today's debate:

Figure above shows the steady decline in atmospheric CO2 during the past 150 million years. During the last glacial maximum 20,000 years ago, carbon dioxide sank to 180 ppm, only 30 ppm above the level where plants begin to die. Dr. Patrick Moore notes that human-caused CO2 emissions has reversed that trend and restored a balance to the global carbon cycle—saving life on earth, not destroying it.

2. How is the vegetation on the planet today? Do we have a green world?

If vegetation really dies at only a slightly lower level of CO2 in the atmosphere compared to today (150-200 ppm), it explains the current appearance of the Earth. See the image of the globe below and reflect briefly. Does it look green? Hardly! It is precisely the result of a very low CO2 content, particularly the yellow areas, which is, to a large extent comprised of deserts.

Compare this to the time of the dinosaurs, when the CO2 content was between 5 to 10 times higher (depending on the exact period). Even further back, when animals began to roam the Earth, the CO2 levels were almost 20 times higher than today (the so-called Cambrian life explosion). It is easy to see how dinosaurs became so huge 70-150 million years ago. Back then, the planet was extremely green and abundant vegetation supplied plenty of food allowing them to become enormous.

A really green planet! It is the sediment of these plants and animals that has contributed to the large coal and oil riches we have today. Therefore, it is important to return some of it to the atmosphere to make the planet greener again. This is similar to what is done artificially in greenhouses today to make plants grow better. It is well known that growers add CO2 to greenhouses because it is known to support growth. This is simply photosynthesis at work. Think about that the next time you’re produce shopping. Just as interesting, when plants are supplied with more CO2, it needs less water (CO2 opens the leaves pores) . This means that increased CO2 levels are particularly helpful in precisely those parts of the world that are extremely dry, such as deserts. Below is the effect of CO2 on rice production in a greenhouse. The higher the CO2, the more they grow:

Consider the effects of higher CO2 on agricultural production and the effect that will have on a growing number of mouths to feed.