Final answer:
Fluctuations in atmospheric carbon dioxide significantly affect climate, largely due to the burning of fossil fuels since industrialization. This has caused an increase in global temperatures and various ecological impacts. To combat climate change, it's necessary to transition to renewable energy sources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fluctuations of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere have a pronounced effect on the climate. Before the Industrial Era, natural phenomena such as Milankovitch cycles, changes in solar activity, and volcanic eruptions influenced these fluctuations. Since 1850, the burning of fossil fuels has dramatically increased the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect that traps more heat. This human-induced rise in CO₂ levels, now over 400 ppmV compared to the pre-industrial 280 ppmV, correlates with global temperature increases.
The greenhouse effect caused by increased CO₂ results in climate changes, impacting weather patterns, precipitation, agricultural outputs, energy needs, and can drastically affect biodiversity and ecosystems. Climate change may cause the habitable zones of organisms to shift, leading to potential habitat loss and altered biodiversity. Additionally, rising CO₂ is linked to ocean acidification, which affects marine life adapted to specific pH levels, leading to further ecological imbalance.
To mitigate these impacts, there's a crucial need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources such as hydroelectric, solar, wind, and nuclear power. This shift is intended to reduce CO₂ emissions, stabilize the climate, and avoid serious negative effects like sea-level rise and increased acidity of the oceans.