Generally refers to the movement and transformation of carbon within ecosystems, including processes such as carbon uptake, storage, release, and cycling between various forms and reservoirs like the atmosphere, vegetation, soil, and oceans. In a building, carbon dynamics refers to the evolving balance of carbon or CO₂ that is absorbed or emitted through its materials and operational emissions over its full lifespan. For example, materials used in a building’s construction may have net positive emissions or net negative emissions. CO₂ is also commonly emitted in the process of renovating, operating and dismantling a building. (See embodied carbon, CO₂-equivalent, operational carbon and carbon-sequestering materials.)