Climate Change Causes Human Activities and Climate Change

Stationary Sources

Everything that people do requires energy. Energy from electricity heats our homes, cooks our food, lights our rooms, and runs the equipment in factories. The use of fossil fuels for energy is the main source of carbon dioxide emission into our planet’s atmosphere. As shown in the figure below, if electricity is made by burning coal, then carbon dioxide is released at the power generation plant.  On the other hand, if your family uses natural gas to heat your home, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere whenever your furnace runs. Turning off appliances when not needed helps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

(Animation source: Sue Hill, Michigan Technological University.)