Why is CO2 rising, and is CO2 rising bad? My feeling is that CO2 is rising because of the gross inefficiency in conversion of fuel to heat and work. I don't know whether higher CO2 is bad or not, but my feeling is that the biosphere can live successfully with twice the level (and probably higher levels) without the elimination of life. The concern seems to be the global warming and what it will cause in ways of dislocations. I respectfully submit this to you for your consideration.
Submitted by: John Oleson
Answer:
The CO2 content of earth's atmosphere is believed to be rising primarily as a consequence of the burning of fossil fuels, as the primary end products of the combustion process are carbon dioxide and water vapor. This being (or thought to be) the case, efficiency certainly enters the picture in terms of how much fuel must be burned to produce the desired end result, i.e., degree of heating, miles to be driven, etc. If conversion processes are grossly inefficient, more fuel must be burned to achieve what is being sought, and more CO2 will enter the atmosphere. So goes the common wisdom on this subject anyway, which, although not completely proven, is generally accepted by most people on both sides of the issue.
With respect to the second part of your question, we do not believe that even large increases in the air's CO2 content will be bad. You are correct in stating that the concern over this phenomenon derives from computer-driven projections of deleterious CO2-induced global warming. For many reasons, scattered all across our web site, we believe there is little rational basis for these projections. You are also correct in your feeling that the biosphere can adequately handle much higher levels of atmospheric CO2. As can be determined from many materials we have posted, the biosphere thrives on CO2; and having more of it in the air would be better for nearly all forms of life.