Fossil Fuel

At the moment we use lots of fossil fuels to provide us with energy and fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas are used to make electricity in power stations. We are going to have to stop using so many fossil fuels firstly because they are running out and secondly because when they are burned to produce electricity or heat, they release large amounts of a gas called carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the air. CO₂ is the main gas that is causing global warming – it is called a greenhouse gas.

There is an atmosphere around the Earth (called the Ozone layer), which is made of up different gases and protects it from getting too hot. The Earth acts like a greenhouse and the Sun shines on it. A build up of greenhouse gases like CO₂ is damaging the Ozone layer and causing global warming and we all are helping to contribute.