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Plants are continually balancing the influx of CO₂ for photosynthesis against the loss of water through stomatal pores in their leaves. This is achieved by guard cells that can sense the changes in intercellular CO₂ concentration and adjust stomatal aperture. When the CO₂ concentration increases, stomata close partially. This reduces water loss and could improve the water economy but also increase leaf temperature and suppress plant growth. Plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) is involved in the regulation of stomatal closure during drought but it also has a role in CO₂-induced stomatal regulation. To breed water-saving crops for a future world with elevated CO₂ and more frequent drought episodes we need to know molecular switches in response to ABA/drought and CO₂. I will present our results in studying mechanisms of stomatal movements in response to changes in the environment. The role of protein kinases MPK4, MPK12, HT1, OST1 and receptor protein GHR1 in the regulation of guard cell anion channels will be discussed.