Explain why scientists are concerned about human activities that cause global warming if global warming is caused by the greenhouse effect and the greenhouse effect is a natural part of Earth’s climate.

1 answer

While the greenhouse effect is indeed a natural part of Earth's climate, human activities have significantly amplified and accelerated it. The burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and other human actions have released huge amounts of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. These gases trap more heat from the sun, causing the Earth's temperature to rise well beyond natural levels. This rapid and unprecedented warming trend has significant implications for the long-term sustainability of human societies and natural ecosystems. Increased temperatures can lead to more frequent and severe weather events, sea level rise, food and water shortages, and devastating ecological consequences. Therefore, scientists are concerned about human activities that cause global warming because they are exacerbating a natural process and pushing the Earth's climate into dangerous and unpredictable territory.