Home > Learning Center > Carbon footprints
Carbon footprints
Carbon dioxide is a natural part of our atmosphere, albeit a very small part (less than .04%) – too much of the gas in our atmosphere doesn’t allow the sun’s reflected infrared rays to escape. Due to the abundant CO2 emissions caused by burning fossil fuel, we have seen significant changes in our environment, also known as our “carbon footprints.”
Evidence of our carbon footprints includes:
• Higher average-temperatures over the last 100 years
• Rising sea levels in the 20th century (6.7 inches)
• Diminishing ice caps
• Canadian tundra turning into forests.In efforts to curb our carbon footprints, a league of nations got together and drafted the Kyoto Treaty, an agreement that restricts the amount of CO2 released in each country. Unfortunately, the USA pulled out of the agreement when President Bush took office.
