However, measurements suggest the climate is only about 1 degree Celsius warmer, so the model does not accurately explain the warming problem. A better model includes particles such as sulfuric acid droplets that are produced along with carbon dioxide by burning fuels such as coal and gasoline. These particles scatter sunlight and on a global scale cool the Earth by about 1.5 degrees Celsius. So the improved model comes closer to duplicating the measured temperature changes. The effects on climate of continued increases in carbon dioxide cannot be predicted because the Earth is a complex system and it is not possible to foresee the effect of small changes.
Carbon dioxide is one of many greenhouse gases, including water, methane and ammonia.
Changing the concentration of any of these or changing other environmental conditions, such as temperature or amount of sunlight that reaches the surface, will change all the others. While it is not possible to predict the amount of climate change that will be caused by carbon dioxide emissions, if we continue to add carbon dioxide to the environment, the climate will get warmer. We know this climate is suitable for our society, but we cannot be sure it still will be suitable after years of pollution. The only safe course of action is to begin to control emissions of greenhouse gases by limiting fossil fuel consumption and other measures. Methods of countering global warming have been suggested.