carbono
nounCEFR B2
What does “carbono” mean in English?
carbon — the chemical element C; in B2 the centrepiece of climate and environmental discourse
carbon — the chemical element C; in B2 the centrepiece of climate and environmental discourse (emisiones de carbono; huella de carbono; dióxido de carbono)
Example sentences
La Unión Europea ha establecido un precio mínimo para el carbono dentro de su sistema de comercio de emisiones.
The European Union has established a minimum price for carbon within its emissions trading system.
Reducir la huella de carbono de la industria del transporte aéreo es uno de los mayores desafíos del sector.
Reducing the carbon footprint of the air transport industry is one of the sector's greatest challenges.
Los científicos miden el carbono almacenado en los bosques para calcular su papel en el ciclo global del clima.
Scientists measure the carbon stored in forests to calculate their role in the global climate cycle.
How to use it
El carbono (noun, masculine) means 'carbon' — the chemical element (C) and, at B2, the centrepiece of climate and environmental discourse. Core collocations: las emisiones de carbono; la huella de carbono (carbon footprint); los créditos de carbono (carbon credits); el dióxido de carbono (CO₂); neutro en carbono (carbon-neutral); el mercado de carbono; el carbono negro (black carbon/soot). The wider environmental discourse builds on carbono as a proxy for greenhouse gas emissions broadly. Distinguish from carbón (coal — a material fuel, not the abstract element in environmental discourse).
Common mistake
Carbono (the element; climate discourse) vs carbón (coal — a solid fuel source). This is a critical distinction: 'carbon tax' = impuesto sobre el carbono (not *impuesto sobre el carbón, which would mean coal tax). 'Carbon dioxide' = dióxido de carbono — the full chemical name. 'Decarbonisation' = descarbonización. 'Carbon neutral' = neutro en carbono or carbono neutral.