Final answer:
A carbon sink is a system or object that absorbs carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas, from the environment. Natural carbon sinks include forests and oceans, and technological methods include direct air capture and carbon capture. These processes and technologies are essential to combat climate change by reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term referring to a system or object that absorbs carbon dioxide from the environment is known as a carbon sink. Carbon sinks play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, in the atmosphere.
Forests and oceans are natural examples of carbon sinks, with plants performing photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide into glucose, a process that incidentally releases oxygen, aiding in supporting animal life. In our collective efforts to move toward net zero emissions, reforestation and the development of technologies such as direct air capture and carbon capture are vital. These technologies and natural processes help in the long-term storage of organic carbon and are juxtaposed against anthropogenic activities that release stored carbon into the carbon cycle, thus increasing greenhouse gases and affecting global temperatures.