Carbon: Why Should I Care?

Getting back to basics for transitioning to a Low-Carbon Economy

From the Boardroom to the Breakroom

In today's fast-paced world, conversations about climate change, decarbonization, and carbon emissions dominate the headlines. We hear about the urgent need for low-carbon solutions, debates on transitioning, and the push towards a "post-carbon economy." The rhetoric around the so-called "war on carbon" is everywhere. But amidst all this chatter, one fundamental question often gets overlooked: What exactly is carbon, and why should we care?

(FUN) Facts About Carbon

Carbon 101: Understanding Earth's Essential Element (and its role in Climate Change)

The Basics

Carbon is more than just a chemical element; it serves as the building block of life on Earth. It is a key component of organic molecules, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. These molecules form the foundation of all living organisms, from plants and animals to microorganisms, and provide the basis for countless compounds essential for biological and industrial processes. Despite comprising only a tiny fraction of Earth's crust, carbon compounds account for a significant portion of all matter in living things. In essence, carbon provides the majority of the energy needed for survival, highlighting its essential role in our daily lives.

On its own Carbon makes up only about 0.032 percent of Earth’s lithosphere (crust and outer mantle) by weight, according to the Encyclopedia of Earth.

Carbon combines with other elements very easily to form substances called compounds. Carbon compounds make up more than 18 percent of all the matter in living things.

More compounds of carbon exist than any other chemical element except for hydrogen.

Organic carbon compounds are far more numerous than inorganic carbon compounds.

Where can we find carbon in nature?

Two main forms of pure carbon exist in nature: diamonds and graphite. Beyond these, materials like coal and charcoal are very rich in carbon and are formed through the breakdown or decomposition of carbon compounds. As plants and animals die and decompose over millions of years, they become buried under layers of soil, eventually transforming into hard and compact forms like coal and other carbon-rich substances.

Now, let's talk about the properties and uses of carbon

Properties and Uses of Carbon

Carbon, in its various forms, is a fundamental element that plays a crucial role in shaping our planet and sustaining life as we know it. The properties of carbon vary depending on its form.

For example, diamonds, renowned for their beauty, are the hardest naturally occurring substance known to man. While treasured as jewels, their hardness makes them invaluable as an industrial material for cutting, grinding, and drilling. On the other hand, graphite is a soft, slippery solid with various industrial applications. Often used as a lubricant, it also finds its way into pencil leads when mixed with clay.

But the story doesn't end there...

Carbon-rich substances such as charcoal and fossil fuels like coal, petroleum, and natural gas are very useful as well as they are vital sources of energy for humans. They are called fossil fuels because they form from fossils or the remains of ancient plants and animals.

Gases in the atmosphere, including carbon compounds like the infamous carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), function similarly to the glass roof of a greenhouse by trapping heat. These heat-trapping gases are known as greenhouse gases (GHG). As the Sun shines through the atmosphere during the day, the Earth's surface absorbs the sunlight and warms up. Without the natural greenhouse effect, the heat emitted by the Earth would simply pass outwards from the Earth's surface into space, and the Earth would have an average freezing temperature of about -20°C.

This brings us to the carbon cycle.

Understanding the Carbon Cycle

Earth's recycling system

The carbon cycle is nature's ingenious mechanism for continually utilizing and replenishing carbon. Animals inhale oxygen, which, during respiration, combines with carbon in their bodies to produce carbon dioxide. Subsequently, plants absorb this carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, transforming it into oxygen and energy. This cycle perpetuates as animals then inhale the oxygen generated by plants.

The carbon cycle process commences with carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide can originate from various sources, including natural occurrences such as forests and oceans, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, or human activities like burning fossil fuels. Plants absorb carbon from the atmosphere, converting it into organic matter through photosynthesis. The carbon stored in plants' biomass serves as a food source for animals that consume them.

Carbon Sink

When animals exhale or decompose, the carbon they carry is sequestered or released back into the atmosphere. Biological carbon sequestration happens when carbon dioxide is stored in the natural environment where it may remain for thousand of years. This includes what are known as 'carbon sinks', such as forests, grasslands, soil, oceans and other bodies of water.

The ocean plays a crucial role as a significant carbon sink, absorbing approximately 25 percent of the carbon dioxide generated by human activities.

In essence, the carbon cycle represents Earth's recycling system, ensuring that carbon is continuously used, transformed, and redistributed throughout the planet's various ecosystems.

It's important to understand that Earth operates as a closed system when it comes to carbon. While the total amount of carbon on the planet remains constant, its distribution among different reservoirs – such as plants, animals, soil, and the atmosphere – can vary over time. Human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels and changes in land use including but not limited to deforestation and conventional agriculture, can disrupt this delicate balance, leading to imbalances in the carbon cycle and contributing to climate change.

Human Impact on Carbon

Greenhouse Effect

Human activities, including deforestation, land-use change, and industrialization, have significantly altered the carbon cycle and are increasingly influencing the climate and Earth's temperature. The release of excessive levels of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere adds substantial amounts to those naturally occurring, disrupting the natural equilibrium of the carbon cycle. This disruption contributes to exacerbating anthropogenic climate issues, such as the greenhouse effect, which leads to rising average temperatures. Additionally, these emissions contribute to ocean acidification, as carbon dioxide dissolves in the ocean, further impacting marine ecosystems.

When carbon dioxide interacts with seawater, it forms carbonic acid (H2CO3), which -can potentially- dissolve calcium carbonate (CaCo3) structures like coral reefs and shells, impeding the growth of marine life.

Strategies to reduce these emissions and transition to a more sustainable future are hotly debated topics in scientific and political circles alike.

But here's where things get interesting.

Despite the negative connotations often associated with carbon emissions, carbon itself is not inherently good or bad. In fact, carbon can be viewed as a valuable resource that can be harnessed and transformed into various forms, each with its own benefits.

Durable Carbon: A valuable resource

Durable carbon refers to carbon that is securely locked and sequestered in stable solids, such as coal and limestone, or in recyclable polymers that can be used and reused. It encompasses a wide range of materials, from reusable fibers like paper and cloth to plastics and bioplastics, as well as building and infrastructure elements that can last for generations before being reused. These materials can undergo various processes, including manufacturing, reuse, recycling, or composting, thereby contributing to a more sustainable approach to resource management.

Living Carbon: Sustaining life on Earth

On the other hand, living carbon refers to organic matter that plays a crucial role in biological cycles. It provides nutrients for plants, supports soil health, and helps maintain the balance of ecosystems.

The key takeaway here is that carbon is only the enemy when it is in the wrong form and in the wrong place. By rethinking our approach to carbon management and embracing a circular carbon economy – one that values carbon as a resource rather than a liability – we can unlock new pathways towards economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

So, why should we care about carbon?

Beyond its role in climate change, carbon is essential for the very existence of life on Earth. Caring about carbon means recognizing its importance in both natural and human-made systems and taking actions to ensure its responsible management and conservation for future generations.

By understanding the importance of carbon, and embracing a whole systems-based approach, we can move away from viewing carbon as the enemy and towards a more holistic view.

Carbon is not just an abstract concept

It's time to move beyond the narrow focus on carbon emissions and recognize the broader implications of our actions. Let's rewrite the narrative around carbon. Instead of demonizing it, let's focus on recapturing its value and integrating it into a circular carbon economy. By embracing the principles of whole systems thinking and circularity, we can harness the true potential of carbon as a valuable resource and pave the way towards a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.

This shift in perspective is not only crucial for environmental sustainability but also for achieving economic and social well-being in the long run.

For more on Carbon is (NOT) the Enemy: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/carbon-enemy-belinda-majani-4kbrf/?trackingId=YT%2FclmnoRg2oAeug%2F0wtlQ%3D%3D