Forests remove large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere as they grow

Forests Forests remove large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere as they grow. They release some carbon dioxide during their lifecycle, and as they decompose. But they remove more than they release.

Oceans Some of the carbon in the atmosphere dissolves into oceans. Marine plants, such as phytoplankton and algae, absorb some of the carbon and trap it in their bodies. The rest is recycled back into the atmosphere.

Changing land use When we change the function of land, by cutting down forests to create farmland for example, we release more carbon into the atmosphere than the planted crops are able to absorb.

Humans Factories, vehicles, and power stations burn fuels formed by fossilized plant and animal remains, releasing huge amounts of trapped carbon into the atmosphere in an instant. This artificial release is not balanced by any natural trapping process.