What is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities?

What is the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities?

• A. Methane
• B. Carbon dioxide
• C. Nitrous oxide
• D. Chlorofluorocarbons

Answer: (B)

The primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities is carbon dioxide. This gas is produced mainly from the burning of fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, which are utilized for energy production, transportation, and industrial processes. Deforestation also contributes to carbon dioxide emissions, as trees that would typically absorb CO2 are cut down.

Carbon dioxide is significant in its impact on climate change because of its long atmospheric lifetime and ability to trap heat. While other gases like methane and nitrous oxide are more potent in terms of their heat-trapping ability on a per-molecule basis, carbon dioxide is released in much larger quantities, making it the most significant greenhouse gas from human activities overall.