Global warming
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas. This means that it traps heat in the atmosphere, which warms the planet. The chemical formula for carbon dioxide
CO2
Carbon dioxide is naturally occurring, but human activities are increasing its concentration in the atmosphere. This is because we are burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which release CO2 into the atmosphere.
When sunlight reaches Earth, it is absorbed by the planet's surface. The surface then warms up and emits infrared radiation back into the atmosphere. CO2 and other greenhouse gases absorb this infrared radiation, which prevents it from escaping into space. This trapped heat warms the atmosphere and the planet.
The more CO2 there is in the atmosphere, the more heat is trapped. This is why the global temperature has been rising in recent years.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has concluded that it is extremely likely that human activities caused more than half of the observed increase in global mean surface temperature from 1951 to 2010. The IPCC also concluded that continued emissions of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and changes in all components of the climate system.
There are a number of things that can be done to reduce CO2 emissions and mitigate climate change. These include switching to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and reducing deforestation.
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