Deo Prakash Chaturvedi and Sumita Kumari

Carbon and Carbon dioxide (CO2) play essential roles in various ecological processes and the overall functioning of the Earth’s system. Carbon is the key element in the structure of all living organisms, from simple bacteria to complex plants and animals. Carbon-based molecules, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids, are the building blocks of cells and tissues. They provide energy, store genetic information, and facilitate the biochemical reactions necessary for growth, reproduction, and metabolism. Carbon is also involved in the structure of ecosystems, as it forms the basis of food chains and supports biodiversity by providing habitats and resources for a wide range of species.

Carbon dioxide, on the other hand, plays a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate. It is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, creating the natural greenhouse effect that helps maintain suitable temperatures for life on the planet. Without CO2 and other greenhouse gases, Earth would be much colder, making it uninhabitable for most life forms. Carbon dioxide is a vital component of photosynthesis, the process by which green plants and algae convert sunlight, water, and CO2 into oxygen and glucose. This process produces oxygen, essential for all aerobic organisms, and acts as a carbon sink, removing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it in biomass and soils. In this way, carbon dioxide is crucial in maintaining the balance of gases in the atmosphere and supporting the overall health and functioning of ecosystems.

However, human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, intensive agriculture and deforestation, have resulted in elevated CO2 levels, disrupting the balance of the greenhouse effect. Excess CO2 intensifies the greenhouse effect, causing accelerated global warming and climate change. The consequences include rising sea levels, melting ice caps and glaciers, more…read more on NOPR