Without this effect, the temperature of the Earth would be drastically lower and life would cease to exist. Scientists, like Dan Lashof from the Natural Resources Defense Council, a non-profit environmental organization aiming to preserve the environment, protect public health and ensure the conservation of wilderness and natural resources, believes humans have a great responsibility. The group has 350,000 members worldwide. Lashof says humans are altering the balance of the world's energy by adding atmospheric gases that absorb infrared radiation, which in turn unnaturally increases the greenhouse effect. According to EPA statistics, carbon dioxide is believed to be the leading culprit in global warming.
Carbon dioxide is created by the burning of oil, coal, gas or wood.
About half of the carbon dioxide released is absorbed by increased plant photosynthesis and the oceans. The other half stays in the atmosphere for decades. The average amount of carbon dioxide has increased from about 275 parts per million before the Industrial Revolution, which began in England in the mid-18th century, to 361 parts per million in 1996. That means there is 1.5 watts of energy for every square meter of the Earth's surface. Scientists also believe more greenhouse gases will increase the rate of climate change.