Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of nature's most potent greenhouse gases. It helps keep Earth's temperature at an agreeable average, but human carbon emissions now threaten this balance.
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There are numerous ways to reduce human emissions of greenhouse gases before they enter our atmosphere, for example by increasing the energy efficiency of buildings or using renewable sources of energy rather than coal power plants.
From another point of view, CO2 reduction also means removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Geo-engineers have described complex ways of doing so, for example by seeding the world's oceans with iron to facilitate the growth of plankton that absorbs CO2 and, when dying, stores it on the ocean's floor. CO2 reduction in its easiest and least complicated way, however, means simply growing more trees. Half of the dead weight of a tree is carbon and a full-grown tree can store tons of carbon dioxide. From this perspective, avoiding deforestation should also be considered CO2 reduction.
CO2 reduction can also be achieved on an individual level, simply by cycling or using public transport to commute to work instead of driving a car, by eating less meat, and choosing regional over exotic fruits and vegetables.
