The two main reasons carbon dioxide levels are rising are the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
Here's a breakdown:
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Burning Fossil Fuels: The burning of coal, oil, and gas for energy releases large amounts of stored carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2). This is a primary driver of the increase.
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Deforestation: Cutting down forests reduces the number of trees available to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Additionally, the process of deforestation itself, such as burning trees, releases stored carbon back into the atmosphere.
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Burning Fossil Fuels | Combustion of coal, oil, and gas for energy production releases significant amounts of CO2. |
| Deforestation | Reduction in the number of trees decreases CO2 absorption. Also, deforestation activities like burning trees directly release stored carbon into the atmosphere. |
While other factors can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, these two are the dominant causes of the observed increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide.
