Question

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Chemical energy sources are often portable and provide large amounts of energy. Fossil fuels are
one kind of chemical energy source. Most of the energy we use in the United States is generated by the combustion of fossil fuels. However, fossil fuel combustion adds greenhouse gases to the
atmosphere, mostly CO2. One measure of the total amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere each year is called a carbon footprint. Read this article to compare the carbon
footprint of an average person in the United States to an average person around the world.

Answer 1

Fossil fuels, including oil, coal, and natural gas, provide most of the world's energy and contribute to CO2 emissions, affecting global warming and climate change. While coal has high carbon emissions, oil is mainly used for transportation. Renewable energy and nuclear power present low-carbon alternatives.

Step-by-step explanation:

Fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas are the predominant sources of energy globally, supplying over 80% of the total energy demand. These energy sources originate from the Earth's crust, where organic materials have been transformed over geological time into hydrocarbon-rich deposits. When combusted, fossil fuels release significant amounts of CO2, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change. This is due to the greenhouse effect, where CO2 traps heat within the Earth's atmosphere, leading to increases in surface temperatures. While coal is used mainly for generating electricity, producing nearly twice the carbon emissions of natural gas, oil is most commonly used for transportation and also contributes heavily to carbon emissions. In contrast, nuclear power offers low-carbon electricity, and renewable energy sources are being increasingly considered as sustainable alternatives to mitigate the adverse effects of fossil fuels on the climate.