Human activities are increasing the concentrations of naturally-occurring
"greenhouse gases" in the atmosphere. These gases, which include
carbon dioxide (CO2), trap solar heat in the atmosphere, thus warming
the surface of the planet. The main human source of greenhouse gases
is the burning of fossils fuels, such as coal oil , and gas for energy and
transportation. Carbon dioxide, the main man-made greenhouse gas, has
a lifetime in the atmosphere of a century or more.
Click on a continent to find out country-by country CO2 emissions on a
per capita basis.
Data Source: Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge
National Laboratory
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