This contributes most directly to which short-term human-induced environmental change?

Global warming

Explanation:

A large power plant burns coal to generate electricity for nearby homes and businesses.

This contributes most directly to which short-term human-induced environmental change?

Coal burning leads to the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and oxides of sulphur. These gases are responsible for absorbing reflected radiation from the sun and forms a blanket in the atmosphere, resulting in the warming of the planet.

The more the concentration of these gases in the atmosphere, the more warming the plant gets.

Increase in the global average temperature (global warming) has negative effects on the planet including the melting of polar ice caps and a subsequent rise in sea levels, desertification of productive lands, etc.