Abstract

For decades, climate advocacy has framed carbon as the ultimate villain. Common phrases like “fighting carbon emissions,” “combatting climate change,” and “decarbonizing the economy” depict carbon as a pollutant that must be eradicated. This warlike language has shaped policies centered on capturing, sequestering, and eliminating carbon—treating it as an adversary to be subdued rather than an essential element of life. However, this framing is misleading, as Paul Hawken argues. Carbon itself is not the problem; it is the fundamental building block of all living organisms. The real issue lies in the excessive accumulation of carbon dioxide due to human activities, disrupting Earth’s natural balance. By treating carbon as a toxic entity rather than an integral part of life’s cycles, we risk alienating people from the living world instead of fostering holistic solutions.