• Question: what is CO2

    Asked by gouldie to Kate on 7 Mar 2014.
    • Photo: Kate Salmon

      Kate Salmon answered on 7 Mar 2014:

      CO2 is a molecule made from one carbon atom and 1 oxygen molecule (which contains 2 oxygen atoms). CO2 only makes up 0.035% of our atmosphere but it has a very big effect on our climate because it is a ‘greenhouse gas’. This means it traps heat in our atmosphere causing our climate to warm. Humans have released a lot of extra CO2 into the atmosphere by burning fuels to keep our homes warm and our cars running . This is making our climate warmer.

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