greenhouse effect

The greenhouse effect is vital for the survival of life on Earth as we know it. Without it, average temperatures could be as low as −18 °C instead of +14°C which is the global average today. The effect is caused by greenhouse gases - the best known being carbon dioxide - which partially prevent the Earth re-radiating the heat it receives from the sun. The concern is that humans are adding billions of tons of extra greenhouse gases every year by the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. This result in more heat being trapped by the greenhouse atmospheric 'blanket' which is causing a global rise in temperatures and major climate change.