Ecology Question:

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Global warming is the increase in the temperature of the planet due to accumulation of some gases in the atmosphere, especially gases that retain the solar energy reflected by the planet surface. The main gas that causes the global warming is carbon dioxide, CO2, but other gases act as "warming gases" too, like methane, CH4, and nitrous oxide, N2O. The exaggerated increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been caused by the burning of fossil fuels (mainly oil and coal) in industrial and urban societies and by forest fires. (It is important to note that the natural warming provided by gases of the atmosphere is fundamental for the maintenance of the planet temperature.)

Predictions of studies sponsored by the United Nations stated that the global warming might cause in the near future life-threatening transformations in the planet. Countries that are the biggest emitters of carbon dioxide, like the United States and China, however, systematically ignore the warnings and continue, largely contribute to the danger.

Global warming is one of the most polemic environmental issues today.