Question

Which human action would help reduce global warming?(1 point)
Responses

Use more fuel-efficient cars
Use more fuel-efficient cars

Use more paper products
Use more paper products

Use more plastic products
Use more plastic products

Use more electricity
Use more electricity
Question 2
Besides burning fossil fuels, describe at least two other human activities that contribute to global climate change.

In your response, explain:

How each activity negatively affects the environment (e.g., damage to ecosystems, pollution, etc).

How each activity leads to changes in Earth's climate (e.g., rising temperatures, extreme weather, etc.)

Use specific examples to support your answer.

Answer 1

**Question 1: Which human action would help reduce global warming?**

The correct response is: **Use more fuel-efficient cars.**

Utilizing fuel-efficient cars contributes to reducing global warming by decreasing the amount of fossil fuel burned for transportation, thereby resulting in lower greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), which is a major contributor to global warming.

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**Question 2: Besides burning fossil fuels, describe at least two other human activities that contribute to global climate change.**

1. **Deforestation:**
- **Negative Effects on the Environment:** Deforestation involves clearing forested areas, which leads to habitat loss for countless species and disrupts ecosystems. Trees play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity, and their removal can result in soil erosion, reduced air quality, and the loss of wildlife habitats.
- **Changes in Earth's Climate:** Trees absorb CO2 from the atmosphere; therefore, when forests are cut down, the carbon stored in trees is released back into the atmosphere. This increase in atmospheric CO2 contributes to the greenhouse effect, leading to rising temperatures and altered weather patterns. For example, the Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth," sequesters significant carbon; its deforestation has been linked to climate changes that can result in more frequent and severe droughts.

2. **Agricultural Practices:**
- **Negative Effects on the Environment:** Modern agricultural practices, particularly the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, can lead to soil degradation, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Excess fertilizers can result in nutrient runoff into waterways, causing algal blooms that deplete oxygen and harm aquatic life.
- **Changes in Earth's Climate:** Livestock farming generates large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is significantly more effective than CO2 at trapping heat in the atmosphere. Agriculture also contributes to nitrous oxide emissions from fertilized soils, another potent greenhouse gas. The increased levels of these gases accelerate global warming, resulting in more extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves. For example, the livestock sector is responsible for approximately 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it a significant contributor to climate change.

By addressing these human activities, we can significantly mitigate the impacts of climate change and work towards a more sustainable future.