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Carbon Dioxide isn't the Only Driver of Climate Change





Brief Responses to Climate Change Denialism Statements

CPSG 200 Science & Global Change Sophomore Colloquium

Carbon Dioxide isn't the Only Driver of Climate Change

While there may be other mynute drivers of Climate Change, increasing CO2 emissions are the most impactful, growing source. There are a plethora of causes of positive radiative forcings (processes that increase net warming), which include three categories: aerosol radiative forcing, anthropogenic radiative forcing, and long-lived greenhouse gases and ozone radiative forcings. Human industrial activities have caused carbon dioxide to become the dominant factor affecting climate change. Burning fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, as well as deforestation are common industrial activities that release tons of carbon dioxide each year. In 2016, carbon dioxide accounted for 81% of the greenhouse gases emitted. In addition to that, anthropogenic carbon dioxide production has only increased ever since the study was done on carbon dioxide levels in 2005. Other gases such as methane and halocarbons barely measure up to carbon dioxide in terms of warming effect on the earth. Even though Methane is more potent than CO2, CO2 is the most dominant greenhouse gas contributing to climate change due to its abundance. The majority (57%) of greenhouse gas and ozone contributed warming comes from CO2 alone. So although it isn’t the only driver of climate change, it is a huge part of it.

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This image shows the various radiative forcings of climate change. It shows the impact of CO2 on climate change in comparison to other greenhouse gases.
Source/Citation: Searcy, Michael. “CO2 Is Main Driver of Climate Change.” Skeptical Science, 15 July 2015, https://static.skepticalscience.com/images/Radiative_Forcing_Summary.gif


For More Information:
Source/Citation: Searcy, Michael. “CO2 Is Main Driver of Climate Change.” Skeptical Science, 15 July 2015, www.skepticalscience.com/CO2-is-not-the-only-driver-of-climate.html


Contributed by: Ali Bhatti, Saniya Wadhwa, Anita Kuang

Last modified: 22 October 2018