Global warming is simply defined as an increasing temperature of the earth as a whole. Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is continually cycled through the Earth's water, air, animal and plant life. Humans exhale carbon dioxide as they breathe. Plants absorb it from the air during photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide traps infrared light from the sun and acts as a heating blanket around the earth. The four primary man made carbon dioxide causes are deforestation and the burning of oil, natural gas and coal. Global warming caused by man made carbon dioxide is a widely debated topic with many variables.

Practically every electrical piece of equipment from a dishwasher to an icemaker causes carbon dioxide emissions. Not all equipment directly pollutes, but if they require electricity to operate then they are causing carbon dioxide emissions indirectly. The majority of electrical power plants use fossil fuels to heat water to a point where steam is created. The steam is used to turn a generator which creates electricity. The burning of those fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide. So even though a hair dryer doesn't directly cause carbon dioxide emissions it does cause it indi

In closing, global warming is a reality, whether the cause is primarily related to man made carbon dioxide or merely a natural trend remains open to debate. Regardless of the reason, people should neither be fatalistic nor complacent about climate change risks.

Deforestation alone contributes 23-30% of all carbon dioxide input to the atmosphere each year (Rainforest Action Network). Forests act as carbon sinks because they store large amounts of carbon dioxide. Deforestation not only decreases the carbon sinks but it also reduces the earth's natural ability to decreases carbon dioxide levels through photosynthesis. Deforestation claims 78 million acres (31 million hectares) or an area the size of Poland each year (Rainforest Action Network).

Out of the three fossil fuels coal releases the largest amount of carbon dioxide per unit of energy. Coal was a primary source of energy in the U.S. during the 1800's and was once a major cause of air pollution in our cities. Coal remains the primary source of fuel for power plants. Coal is the United States most abundant fossil fuel with an estimated 400+ billion metric tons. A coal fired 1000-megawatt power plant releases as much as 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide per day (Nebel and Wright 326). America currently utilizes coal fired power pants to obtain 57% of its electrical needs. This is equal to 991 million

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Approximate Word count = 917
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)