It is possible that humans are altering the environment by causing changes to the climate. While climate and weather patterns naturally change and fluctuate, there have been noticeable differences within the last 150 years that could be the result of human-caused activities. There are gases that are found in the atmosphere called Greenhouse Gases. These gases are capable of staying in the atmosphere and creating a type of blanket that traps the radiant heat of the sun and keeps the earth warm. Theses gases are a natural part of the atmosphere and are beneficial when they are in balance, but when human-caused emissions cause larger than normal concentrations, problems begin.
Humans create harmful emissions from agriculture, automobiles, aerosols and air conditioning.
Carbon dioxide has the greatest effect on the climate and is being pumped into the atmosphere at ever increasing rates. The earth does not have time to naturally disperse the CO2 and so it continues to build up in the atmosphere. CO2 and other greenhouse gases can stay in the atmosphere for many years or even centuries in some cases. So reductions won t have any significant impacts immediately, but will in the long term. Core samples have shown a correlation or link between CO2 in the atmosphere and surface temperature.