Save the planet, hold your breath

To be fair to them, it’s a reader’s question, and the answer says that in reality, the CO2 we’re breathing out is part of a natural cycle, by which our bodies convert carbohydrates from CO2-absorbing plants into energy, plus water and CO2. As such, we’re not adding any extra CO2. In contrast, burning fossil fuels like coal releases CO2 which has been locked up for millions of years, producing a net contribution to global warming.

Source: https://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/how-much-does-human-breathing-contribute-to-climate-change

Some people, by continuing to breath, have an outsized effect compared to others.

Clearly the issue here is just prioritizing who stops breathing.

It’s really hard to listen to blue checked accounts posting on social media owned by a trillionaire.

I don’t think theres a socioeconomic system that allows 9 billion people to live a modern life on earth without climate change. I vote we renew the USAID program that shipped condoms to the middle east and we make college free for women everywhere, that should about fix it.

EDIT: And normalize meat only being an occasional meal instead of twice daily.

While the premise from the headline is ridiculous, considering the contribution to CO2 emissions caused by human metabolism is not.

Humans don’t have a good efficiency, compared to e.g. a electric motor.
Also, the “fuel” used by humans itself typically already comes with a gigantic CO2 burden.

That’s also the reason that biking without electric assistance is not quite as carbon neutral as most people believe.

Putting it this way: The primarily meat-based overconsumption prevalent in many western countries offers many opportunities to significantly reduce CO2.