climate change

The emission of greenhouse gases - such as carbon dioxide and methane - as by-products of industry and agriculture is having a global impact on temperature and weather systems.

Consequences of resource exploitation

When fossil fuels are burned - by industry, in power stations and by vehicles and planes - gases (as unwanted by-products known as carbon emissions) enter theatmosphere. Carbon dioxide (CO₂), in particular, is given off when fossil fuels, such as oil and coal, are burned. Although these gases have always been present in the world's atmosphere, their concentration is gradually increasing as more and more fossil fuels are burned.

The inequality in the use of resources between MEDCs and LEDCs is shown by measuring and comparing their carbon emissions per capita. Countries that use a lot of fossil fuels to produce energy to power industry, produce electricity and heat homes, also produce a lot of carbon gasses.

Greenhouse gases

Scientists believe that the build-up of so-called greenhouse gases in the atmosphere acts like a blanket or greenhouse around the planet; heat is trapped inside the Earth's atmosphere. This is the greenhouse effect, and the resulting increase in global temperatures is called global warming.

• Plants and trees need CO₂ and use it up. However, if there is too much CO₂in the atmosphere - due to factories and power stations, combined with a reduction in the number of trees, through deforestation - CO₂ builds up in the atmosphere.
• This build-up of CO₂ is believed to contribute to global warming through thegreenhouse effect. This is why CO₂ is called a greenhouse gas.
• The biggest producers of CO₂ in the world are the United States (USA), China, Russia, Japan, India, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Italy and Mexico.
• The largest producers by far are the USA and China.

The diagram below shows the countries that contribute the biggest percentage of the world's carbon emissions.