Abstract.Apart from its impact on global warming, the annually increasing atmospheric [CO2] is of interest to plant scientists primarily because of its direct influence on photosynthesis and photorespiration in C3species. But in addition, ‘dark’ respiration, another major component of the carbon budget of higher plants, may be affected by a change in [CO2] independent of an increase in temperature. Literature pertaining to an impact of [CO2] on respiration rate is reviewed. With an increase in [CO2], respiration rate is increased in some cases, but decreased in others. The effects of [CO2] on respiration rate may be direct or indirect. Mechanisms responsible for various observations are proposed. Theseproposedmechanisms relate to changes in: (1) levels of nonstructural carbohydrates, (2) growth rate and structural phytomass accumulation, (3) composition of phytomass, (4) direct chemical interactions between CO2and respiratory enzymes, (5) direct chemical interactions between CO2and other cellular components, (6) dark CO2fixation rate, and (7) ethylene biosynthesis rate. Because a range‐of (possibly interactive) effects exist, and present knowledge is limited, the impact of future [CO2] on respiration rate cannot be predicted. Theoretical considerations and types of experiments that can lead to an increase in the understanding of this issue are out