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All living things are made of molecules containing carbon. When we burn them, even if they’ve fossilised into forms like coal or oil, we release carbon dioxide (CO2). Most scientists agree that the growing atmospheric concentration of CO2 and other gases is causing the earth’s climate to change. It’s doing this by intensifying what's called “the greenhouse effect,” as illustrated above.
Naturally occurring greenhouse gases in the atmosphere – the most common being water vapour – help regulate the earth’s temperature by trapping solar radiation. This “greenhouse effect” has warmed our planet for millions of years.
Without any greenhouse gases, scientists judge the average earth temperature would be more like -15ºC, instead of a relatively comfortable 14ºC. But most scientists judge that the increasing concentration of human-induced greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is warming the planet.
They consider it essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from sources such as fossil fuels in order to prevent or reduce the risk of greenhouse effect-related climate change.
The planet Venus, a near twin in size to the earth, is an extreme example of the greenhouse effect. Its very dense atmosphere, composed primarily of carbon dioxide gas, which traps the heat from the sun during the day and prevents the surface from cooling at night. As a result, average surface temperatures on Venus are over 460ºC.1
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