How Human causes of climate change

Global warming is caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, and farming.

When we burn fossil fuels like coal, and gas to create electricity or power our cars, we release CO2 pollution into the atmosphere

Reducing the amount of electricity generated from coal and gas, and increasing the amount of electricity from clean, renewable energy sources like solar and wind, means less carbon pollution is emitted. This is one of the main ways we can address global warming.

Plants play an important role in regulating the climate because they absorb carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen back into it. Forests and bushland act as carbon sinks and are a valuable means of keeping global warming to 1.5°C.

But humans clear vast areas of vegetation around the world for farming, urban and infrastructure development or to sell tree products such as timber and palm oil. When vegetation is removed or burnt, the stored carbon is released back into the atmosphere as CO2, contributing to global warming. Up to one-fifth of global greenhouse gas pollution comes from deforestation and forest degradation.

Preventing deforestation as well as planting trees, through reforestation and afforestation, are important actions in the fight against global warming.

Animals, livestock like sheep and cattle, produce methane, a greenhouse gas. When livestock grazed at a large scale, as in Australia, the amount of methane produced is a big contributor to global warming.

Some that farmers use also release nitrous oxide, which is another greenhouse gas.