What are the major greenhouse gases?
The most important greenhouse gas is water. Yes, that’s right, good old H2O. Industrialization hasn’t added much water to the atmosphere. But as the planet heats up, more water evaporates and enters the atmosphere. This makes things hotter, which means more water evaporates. It’s a vicious circle. The major greenhouse gas that has been produced by humans is carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is created when we burn things, especially fuels like coal, natural gas and oil. Because these fuels were made millions of years ago, they are often called “fossil fuels”. And because it took millions of years to produce them, we can safely say we won’t be able to make more any time soon. That’s why they are known as non-renewable energy sources. OK, now get this: industry spews about 6.3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year. That’s the equivalent of 19 thousand Empire State Buildings. Carbon dioxide is also released when we change the way we use the land. One of the most dra
