Living trees (along with other plants and some kinds of algae and bacteria) take in atmospheric CO² as part of photosynthesis – the process of converting light energy into food.

Rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide – a greenhouse gas produced both naturally and, more problematically, by the burning of fossil fuels – is a major contributor to climate change.

Dr. Dr. Charles David Keeling, the world’s leading authority on atmospheric greenhouse gas accumulation was the first to confirm the rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide by very precise measurements that produced a data set now known widely as the “Keeling Curve.” He became the first to determine definitively the fraction of carbon dioxide from combustion that remains in the atmosphere. The Keeling record of the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide measured at Mauna Loa, Hawaii, and at other “pristine air” locations, represents what many believe to be the most important time-series data set for the study of global change.

Researchers at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say global levels of atmospheric CO² have reached 387 parts per million (ppm), up almost 40 percent since the start of the Industrial Revolution, and the highest in at least 650,000 years.

Accumulating levels of atmospheric CO² pose a significant environmental danger to life on Earth, scientists say, from global warming to ocean acidification.

Potential solutions to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO²) levels
• The use of cleaner, renewable forms of energy.
• Carbon sequestration
natural: trees, algae, bacteria, soil
synthetic: carbon capture devices, pumping CO² gas deep beneath the earth’s surface

Related CO² carbon dioxide susty stuff:
Keeling Curve: Our Breathing Planet and CO2 Rising
Dr. Charles David Keeling BIOGRAPHY: Climate Science Pioneer
CO2 Now ONLINE » Greenhouse Gas Watchdog
Kyoto Protocol

350 Campaign, carbon emissions and Bill McKibben »
Bill McKibben and the Magic Number 350
Nasa Scientist James Hansen Warns the World Must Urgently Make Huge CO2 Reductions
SustyHack: 350.org
Bill McKibben Biography: Author, Environmental Activist
George Spyros on Huffington Post: 350 Is The Most Important Number of Your Lifetime
350.org Campaign Launches in 8 Languages Today VIDEO 90 seconds WATCH >>
Brighter Schools Program Raises Money and Environmental Awareness
Brighter Planet Website Screencast VIDEO
Brighter Planet and 350.org Challenge Bloggers to Offset Carbon Emissions With Onsite Badge
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Bank of America Launches Brighter Planet Credit Card
Brighter Planet
1Sky PSA: America is Ready for Bold Climate Action! VIDEO
All Susty posts tagged with Brighter Planet

Carbon sequestration, CO² capture, trees and soil:
Carbon Extracting Trees: Synthetic & Biological
Shhhh, We’ve Got a Secret: Soil Solves Global Warming VIDEO 7 minutes WATCH >>
Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)
Redwood Reproduction: DOING THE NATURAL
All posts tagged Sequoia sempervirens
Urban Forest Benefits BASICS»