Carbon Emissions
Carbon emissions, in relation to climate change, refer to the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced when various substances, primarily fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal, are combusted by vehicles, planes, factories, and homes. These emissions contribute to the greenhouse effect, a natural process in which GHGs trap heat within the Earth’s atmosphere, thus maintaining the planet’s overall temperature. However, due to human activities, such as industrialization, deforestation, and the burning of fossil fuels, the concentration of carbon emissions has increased substantially, resulting in an enhanced greenhouse effect known as global warming. This rise in global temperatures causes a multitude of environmental issues, including extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and loss of biodiversity. As such, efforts to mitigate climate change focus on reducing carbon emissions by transitioning to cleaner energy sources, promoting energy efficiency, and implementing carbon capture and storage technologies.