Bloated planet

Carbon dioxide is essential for life on Earth. But too much of a good thing can make life a bit asphyxiating—consider Venus and Mars, where CO2 makes up at least 95 percent of the atmosphere. The International Day of Climate Action on Saturday, October 24, will call attention to rising CO2 emissions on the home front. In Davis, there will be a bike parade beginning at 10 a.m. followed by jazz music, vendors and a farmers’ market in Central Park, 401 C Street. There also will be a compact fluorescent light bulb giveaway and art projects for kids at Soil Born Farms, 2140 Chase Drive in Rancho Cordova. For information on other events in the area, visit www.350.org.