Carbon dioxide is a colourless, odourless gas. High amounts of carbon dioxide (and carbon dioxide equivalents) are released through human activities, such as the combustion of fossil fuels to produce electricity. Water vapour represents the majority of the gas in the natural greenhouse gas cycle that keeps the planet warm. However, an increase in carbon dioxide (and other carbon-based gases such as methane) in this cycle is trapping additional heat and is believed to be the cause of man-made and unwanted global warming. There is so much reliable and accurate information available on these questions that we will not attempt to repeat this here but rather provide these recommended links: World Business Council for Sustainable Development UN report on Confronting Climate Change Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change.
