Final answer:
Trees absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, storing carbon in their fibers and reducing atmospheric CO2 levels. Deforestation and burning fossil fuels release this carbon, contributing to climate change.
Step-by-step explanation:
Trees have a critical role in taking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and incorporating the carbon atoms into their structure. This is an essential process in the cycle of life on Earth and is part of what regulates our planet's climate. Through photosynthesis, trees convert carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen. The carbon becomes part of the tree's mass, mainly within the structural fibers, such as cellulose, that make up the tree's trunk, branches, and leaves. As trees grow, they accumulate more carbon, effectively acting as a carbon sink and helping to mitigate climate change.
Deforestation significantly impacts this process as it reduces the number of trees available to absorb carbon dioxide. Additionally, when trees are burned or decompose, the stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere, contributing to greenhouse gas levels. The burning of fossil fuels further exacerbates this cycle, releasing even more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which trees and other plants would otherwise help to regulate.