Final answer:
Burning of fossil fuels raises carbon dioxide levels, which could support photosynthesis, but the resultant global warming and other environmental changes overall hinder the process and disrupt ecosystems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, increases the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global climate change. One aspect of this situation is that it could ostensibly support photosynthesis, because plants need carbon dioxide to carry out this process. However, the greenhouse effect resulting from increased carbon dioxide levels causes global warming, which disrupts ecosystems and hinders the photosynthesis process. In addition, the ongoing deforestation worldwide, particularly in tropical areas, exacerbates the problem since forests play a crucial role in absorbing CO2 and replenishing oxygen in the atmosphere.
In other words, while a higher carbon dioxide concentration could provide more gas for photosynthesis, the overall environmental effects of global climate change, such as higher temperatures and resultant changes in precipitation patterns, can be detrimental to plant growth and thus hinder photosynthesis. Additional destructive impacts like habitat loss and the melting of glaciers and polar ice also result from climate change induced by the burning of fossil fuels.
Learn more about Effects of Burning Fossil Fuels