Human Impacts on the Carbon Cycle

impact of fuel extraction & burning

moving lithospheric carbon stores to atmosphere

extractive industries responsible for half of earth’s emissions

destroying environment, losing biodiversity

90% of global CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels and industry

impact of land use change: farming practices

indirectly - burning fossil fuels to run machinery

direct - ploughing and harvesting, disturbing soil, burnin straw stubble, slash-and-burn techniques

impact of land use change: urbanisation

stores like trees removed, parks replaced with housing, surfaces replaced with concrete pavements

cement industry contributes 7.5% of anthropogenic heat

impact of land use change: deforestation

generates 20% of global emissions

reduces systems ability to absorb CO2 in future