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Soil traps carbon left behind after plants decay and can lock it away from the atmosphere for thousands of years 

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As once-living things decay, CO₂ is released

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Phytoplankton in oceans and lakes use CO₂ dissolved in water to conduct photosynthesis

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Burning fossil fuels creates most of the energy that powers our electrical devices. This releases CO₂

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Industrial processes powered by coal, oil, or natural gas release CO₂

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Fossil fuels are burned both to grow and transport food to stores. This releases CO₂ 

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Gasoline is made from oil and releases CO₂ when it is burned

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Appliances use electricity, most of which is produced by burning fossil fuels. This releases CO₂

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Trees absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere during photosynthesis

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 Volcanoes release CO₂ when they erupt 

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 Plants use CO₂ from the air to make carbon-based food for growth during photosynthesis 

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Burning fossil fuels, a process that releases CO₂, produces most of the electricity needed in a city

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Carbon is fixed into rocks over millions of years through organic processes on the land and seafloor

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Peat bogs absorb CO₂ from the air and store carbon from decaying plants and other organisms

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Animals release CO₂ when they exhale and through their manure

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Many marine organisms extract CO₂ from the ocean to build shells

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Reef-building corals use carbonate made from CO₂ dissolved in seawater to make their exoskeletons

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Heating and air conditioning systems use fossil fuel based energy, which releases CO₂ when burned

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Organic matter builds up at the bottom of ponds, providing long term storage of CO₂

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Burning organic matter, like wood, releases CO₂

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Oceans absorb CO₂ directly from the atmosphere

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Diesel fuel is made from oil and releases CO₂ when burned