Why does burning fossil fuels release CO2?
Carbon is the basic building block forming all living organisms. Fossil fuels are made from fossilised plant material and are therefore constituted mainly of carbon. Under the right temperature and pressure conditions, ancient vegetation is transformed into gas, oil or coal, in a process lasting millions of years. Combustion occurs when carbon inside fossil fuels reacts with oxygen, generating heat as well as CO2 and water. Other gases and particles in the air produce side reactions, leading to the formation of other gases such as nitrogen oxides (NOx).
