What is so unique about CO2?

Abstract

Considering that the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is extremely low: only 400 ppm or 0.04 vol.%, it is surprising how much impact this gas exerts on life on our planet. What is so unique about CO2? In this chapter, Greenhouse effect, radiative forcing, global warming potential, global carbon cycle, and other phenomena that control the livability of our planet are linked to unique optical and physicochemical properties of CO2. An increasing body of scientific evidence suggests that humans are affecting the Earth’s radiative and carbon balances mainly through increased emissions of greenhouse gases originating from industrial activities, land-use change, deforestation, and other practices that became prevalent during the rapid industrial development of the last two and half centuries.