What are the major causes of climate change?

Climate change is primarily driven by human activities that increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. The major causes of climate change include:

Burning of Fossil Fuels: The combustion of coal, oil, and natural gas for energy and transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions globally. This process releases carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), which trap heat in the atmosphere and lead to global warming.

Deforestation and Land Use Changes: Trees and forests absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and act as carbon sinks. When forests are cut down or burned (a process called deforestation), the carbon stored in trees is released back into the atmosphere, increasing CO2 levels. Additionally, converting forests to agricultural land or urban areas reduces the Earth’s capacity to absorb CO2.

Industrial Processes and Agriculture: Certain industrial processes, such as cement production, produce significant amounts of CO2. Agriculture also contributes to climate change through methane emissions from livestock digestion (enteric fermentation), rice paddies, and manure management, as well as nitrous oxide emissions from synthetic fertilizers.

Waste Management: Landfills are a significant source of methane emissions due to the decomposition of organic waste. Additionally, waste treatment processes, including wastewater treatment, can produce greenhouse gases.

Transportation: The transportation sector, which includes cars, trucks, ships, trains, and airplanes, is a major source of CO2 emissions, primarily from burning fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel.

The combination of these activities increases the greenhouse effect, where gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap heat from the sun. This additional heat leads to a rise in global temperatures, causing changes in weather patterns, melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and more extreme weather events.