Final answer:
The consumption of fossil fuels leads to a rise in atmospheric CO2 concentrations, which enhances the greenhouse effect and contributes to global climate change.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary link between the consumption of fossil fuels and levels of atmospheric CO2 is a rise in atmospheric CO2 concentrations. When we burn fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas for energy, carbon that has been stored underground for millions of years is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.
This increase in CO2 levels enhances the greenhouse effect, trapping heat and leading to global climate change. This process has resulted in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations reaching levels unprecedented in human history, which in turn is warming the planet and contributing to other climatic disturbances.
Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2, are critical to mitigating the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and the overall health of the planet's ecosystems.