Human Causes of Climate Change

• Burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, releases Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere.
• Coal has been increasingly used to power factories and generate electricity in power stations to heat homes.
• Increased car ownership has resulted in more petrol and diesel being used to fuel cars.
• Increased car exhaust emissions have resulted in more Nitrous Oxide.
• Deforestation has resulted in less carbon dioxide being absorbed and the burning rapidly releases more C02.
• Methane has been released from landfill sites as waste decomposes and when drilling for natural gas.
• In padi fields, methane is produced by microbes underwater as rice plants decay.
• Rice production is increasing to meet the demand in rapidly growing countries.
• The increasing demand for beef has resulted in more methane being created by belching cattle and from animal dung.
• Methane is more than 20 times as effective in trapping heat than CO2; it accounts for 20% of the enhanced greenhouse effect; and it remains in the atmosphere for 11-12 years.
• The increased production of fertilisers also adds to the amount of Nitrous Oxide in the atmosphere.
• Nitrous oxide is 200-300 times more effective in trapping heat than Carbon Dioxide.
• Refrigerators which are not disposed of correctly release CFCs when the foam insulation inside them is shredded.