Why do fossil fuels contribute to global warming?

Question

Why do fossil fuels contribute to global warming?

Answer 1

Some gases ("greenhouse gases") let sunlight in, which warms the Earth, and then block that heat from leaving. That's the "greenhouse effect", and it's a natural thing, mostly caused by water vapor.

Man is making excessive amounts of greenhouse gases, mostly by burning fossil fuels. That causes the delicate natural balance to go out of whack and the Earth warms. That's global warming.

It won't be a Hollywood movie style disaster. Gradually coastal areas will flood and agriculture will be damaged. But it will be very bad. Rich countries will cope, but it will take huge amounts of money. In poor countries many people will die of starvation, but not all of them.

Most scientists say, in 20-50 years. But we need to start right now to fix it, fixing it will take even longer than that.

Really good website for more information here:

http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/f101.a...

Lots of numerical scientific data proving it real here:

http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Ima...

http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report...

Proof that most scientists think it's real and mostly caused by us here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_...

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/fu...

Answer 2

When burned.  Methane contributes simply if it is in the atmosphere.  Worse than CO2, better to burn it than let it escape.

Answer 3

Fossil fuels are carbon-based.  When you burn coal or oil, the carbon stored in the fuel is released as CO2.  CO2 acts as a greenhouse gas, trapping heat within the atmosphere.  

Millions of tons of CO2 are released into the atmosphere by naturally occuring processes, but, in the past, rainforests have absorbed much of the Carbon and generated oxygen.  

The increase in CO2 emmissions by burning fossil fuels, combined with the massive reduction in the area of rainforests has lead to an increase in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

The total forrested are of the earth is reducing; this is a fact and connot be denied.

The majority of CO2 emmissions are natural and not as a result of burning fossil fuels; this is a fact and cannot be denied.

The amount of CO2 emmissions into the atmosphere has increased due to burning of fossil fuels; this is a fact and cannot be denied.

The average atmospheric temperature, averaged over the entire world is increasing (measured over the past 150 years); this is debated by certain groups.

Make up your own mind, but don't take the word of the same documentary makers who insist that smoking and breast implants are good for you.

Answer 4

They don't.  Environmentalists wanted catalytic converters put on all cars to reduce the exhaust of a car to carbon dioxide and water vapor.  So that's what car companies did.  Now we're being told that Co2 and water vapor are poisonous gasses that are causing the Earth to heat up at a tremendous rate and we're all gonna die.  

But we did what environmentalists wanted, so why is there a problem?  What's the next scare?  Why does it always cost money?

Answer 5

Because THEY say so .

Answer 6

Yes, the CO2 produced by burning fossil fuels traps heat in the atmosphere.  Fossil fuels are incredibly energy dense, which makes it worse than burning, say, wood.

Answer 7

Ok im gonna say this once so everyone who thinks global warming is real listen good. This is g*y hoax that algore is trying to make money with. "carbon credits" thats the gayest thing i have ever heard of. global warming isnt real. some parts of the world just experienced the coldest winters in history. They say polar bears are going extinct but they arent there are so many polar bears and biggest recorded number of polar bears. the world is like a pedaloom it swings back and forth. it gets hot then cold and hot and cold and it has been doing this since the beginning of the earth!!!!! Inorder for global warming to take place there needs to be soo much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to burn through it. ok we arent even half way there! everyone needs to calm down because GLOBAL WARMING DOESNT EXIST!!! ITS A WAY FOR ALGORE TO MAKE MONEY!!!!! the government doesnt want to tell you these things because they want your money and time!!!!

Answer 8

Burning fossil fuels releases large amounts of CO2, which is a potent greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases prevent heat from escaping from earth and back into space. More greenhouse gases will mean a warmer Earth.

Answer 9

fossil fuels or anything man or women do doesn't cause climate change. like any woman, mother nature is going to do what she's gonna do, and we have no say. go to the link provided below and read up on it. global warming is a hoax, pure and simple!

Answer 10

hey natascha its allie from  bis

go to www.ucsusa.org/clean energy/fossil_fuels/the-hidden-cost-of-f...

Answer 11

They don't to a significant extent.

Answer 12

there is no such thing as global warming.