Unfortunately, we missed the chance for a better scenario several years ago.
But hey – have a consolation prize.
A little chocolate to sweeten your naivety?
Take a look at a more realistic level.
Oh – you still believe in a perfect world?
Did you really think there was a better scenario?
You dreamer, you.
Unfortunately, we can’t turn back time.
The past is gone for good.
Can’t handle reality?
It’s okay – we’ve got something to help you.
Our mountains are full of carbon. The exact quantities have not been fully quantified. Organic carbon in the soil becomes more stable with increasing elevation. Healthy forests play a crucial role in carbon storage (as reservoirs), in removing carbon from the atmosphere (as sinks), and in mitigating climate change. This function varies with elevation: at lower altitudes, sink capacity declines due to drought and tree mortality; at higher elevations, it may increase as vegetation zones shift upward with warming.
Overall, however, less CO₂ is already being removed from the atmosphere today.
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There are carbon stocks in soils above the treeline that could be suddenly released. back to Permafrost
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The carbon sink capacity of forests directly influences the trajectory of global warming. continue to Climate Change
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Forests store CO₂. Global warming reduces this storage capacity – which in turn further exacerbates the climate problem. back to Tree Vitality
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A forest fire destroys biomass and leads to a sharp short-term release of CO₂. In the long term, the balance depends on how well the forest regenerates and whether the soil regains its carbon storage capacity. back to Forest Fires
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Higher CO₂ concentrations stimulate the growth of wheat, rice, and soy, while pulses such as peas and beans are negatively affected. continue to Agriculture
Thawing alpine permafrost soils release CO₂ – but in relatively small amounts, especially compared with the quantities that can be newly stored in biomass through increased plant growth at higher elevations.
A future expansion of vegetation cover could therefore contribute to reducing atmospheric CO₂. By contrast, lowland forests and peatlands are storing less and less carbon due to drought-related damage.
Unfortunately, this latter process is dominant.
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As soils in permafrost regions warm, they increasingly become a CO₂ source as stored carbon is released. To what extent this can be offset by increased plant growth remains uncertain. back to Permafrost
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Greater CO₂ emissions intensify the greenhouse effect and accelerate global warming. continue to Climate Change
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As tree mortality increases, Swiss forests are increasingly becoming CO₂ sources rather than functioning as sinks. back to Tree Vitality
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Forest fires release CO₂, and burned vegetation can no longer absorb it. It takes a very long time for the forest to regenerate sufficiently to rebalance the carbon budget. back to Forest Fires
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Higher CO₂ concentrations promotes the growth of wheat, rice, and potatoes, but reduces their nutritional quality (especially protein, iron, and zinc). continue to Agriculture
The carbon sink capacity of vegetation in Switzerland is declining dramatically. Due to large-scale and prolonged drought and the associated damage, many areas are now net emitters of CO₂. Large-scale wildfires and increased tree mortality further amplify CO₂ emissions. Across large parts of nature, its function as a carbon sink is almost completely lost, and it is instead becoming a source of CO₂.
It is a vicious cycle – one that, quite literally, is turning up the heat.
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The expansion of plants into former permafrost areas can lead to the storage of new carbon in the soil, which could have a positive effect on the CO₂ balance. back to Permafrost
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Alongside the greenhouse gases directly produced by humans, additional natural CO₂ sources accelerate climate change. continue to Climate Change
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Swiss forests are becoming significant CO₂ sources over large areas, as they release far more CO₂ than they can absorb. back to Tree Vitality
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Frequent, large-scale fires release enormous amounts of CO₂ that cannot be compensated within a reasonable timeframe – at least not for the net-zero strategy. back to Forest Fires
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Higher CO₂ concentrations may stimulate plant growth, but they also make plants more susceptible to pests, as their leaves contain more sugars and fewer defensive substances. continue to Agriculture
That's it. RIP.
That's a bit too much.
Maybe go down a level?
Got it – you're really into extremes.
Game over.
Try a different level.
That extreme? You’ll find the matching soundtrack here.
We’re done with this planet.
On to the next!
Solutionsfor: CO₂ Balance
International climate policy measures have by far the greatest influence on CO₂ emissions.
The solutions are well known: reducing dependence on fossil fuels by expanding renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, electrifying mobility, and cutting CO₂ and other greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide and methane in industry and agriculture.
Future technologies – such as carbon capture or its direct removal from the atmosphere and storage in building materials or underground – may prove crucial in the long term. However, they are often energy- and cost-intensive, require substantial land area, or may entail additional ecological risks.