Every cloud has a silver lining. Enormous amounts of CO₂ are going to be collected as a consequence of efforts to combat global warming, making CO₂ a VERY inexpensive, available and renewable material! Other than the well-known use of CO₂ as a supercritical solvent, what else can CO₂ be used for?

• As a feedstock for the synthesis of an increasing number of organic products

• In combination with water, ionic liquids or liquid polymers, as a biphasic medium for chemical reactions

• When dissolved in liquids, as a modifier of the liquid's properties (often to great practical advantage)

• In combination with alcoholic solvents, as an acid catalyst for reactions

• As a trigger for switchable solvents (solvents that can reversibly change their properties when desired)

• As a trigger for switchable surfactants (surfactants that can switch on and off when desired).

Recent research and future prospects in these areas will be described.