Humans are the main cause of climate change according to scientific evidence. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, which are byproducts of human activities such as burning fossil fuels and agriculture, are the leading cause of changes in the climate. While more people now believe that climate change is occurring and human-caused, many do not see it as an immediate threat. Proposed solutions such as a carbon tax are controversial, as they may help reduce emissions but also negatively impact economies and lower-income families. Overall the document argues that humans play a significant role in driving climate change.

1. Tyler Victor
Harold Blanco
FYS 101
June 19, 2014
Humans effect on Climate Change
The topic of climate change and humans role in climate change is a long debated subject,
many people believe that humans are the main cause for these climate changes. There is
scientific information that supports this thought of humans being the main cause. The fear of
climate change is that humans will cause the earth to increase in temperature and cause natural
disasters to become more frequent and deadly. The main cause for climate change is greenhouse
gasses, public concern is changing, and many plans have been discussed on how to fix the
problem.
Greenhouse gasses (GHG) are the leading cause for the major changes in climate and are
produced by humans. “Greenhouse gases come from a variety of human activities, including:
burning fossil fuels for heat and energy, clearing forests, fertilizing crops, storing waste in
landfills, raising livestock, and producing some kinds of industrial products. Greenhouse gas
emissions are not the only way that people can change the climate. Activities such as agriculture
or road construction can change the reflectivity of Earth's surface, leading to local warming or
cooling” (epa.gov). The main GHG are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,
hydrofluorocarbons, and perfluorocarbons. Carbon dioxide is produced from burning fossil
fuels. Methane is produced from the decay of organic material in landfills. Nitrous is produced
from fertilizer. Hydrofluorcarbons and perfluorocarbons are produced from foam blowing

2. installation. All of these greenhouse are byproducts of human activities. More people have
become aware of climate change (epa.gov).
As climate change has become a growing issue within congress the public has also seen a
rise in belief and interest. “A poll in March showed that 66% of people believe global warming
has begun are will begin in their lifetimes. 57% of the people that believe in climate change; also
believe human activity is the cause, compared to just 50% in 2010. Another poll from April
found 69% of Americans there is solid evidence earth is warming. 42% believe that it is mostly
caused by humans” (Weeks 2014). 64% of the people surveyed in March did not see climate
change as a serious threat to them or their life styles, while only 33% of people surveyed in April
thought climate change was a very serious problem. Since people don’t see climate change as an
impending danger they tend to be only willing to sacrifice a little bit deal with it. Many solutions
have been thought of.
Although many solutions to this ever growing problem have been thought of, each one is
very heavily debate for example imposing a carbon tax on companies. Some think the carbon
won’t just help the climate problem, but also help the economy. Others think the tax isn’t just a
tax production, but consumption as well. People also believe that the tax would hit lower income
families hard because more of their budget is spent on energy. People for the tax say you can
avoid hitting the lower income families hard through refundable income tax credits and payroll
tax credits. People against the tax last issue with tax is if the U.S. should act unilaterally without
cooperation from the rest of the world. In addition to that they also think the tax would reduce
economic activity and here and do little to the overall level of carbon emissions. The people for
the tax say they’re discounting other countries that have done this and showed no evidence of
them paying a significant price or any price at all. Other ideas that have surfaced are painting the

3. roofs of buildings white and shooting reflective material into the sky to redirect some of the sons
light back into outer space.
In conclusion humans have a bigger role in climate change than what people think. This
is evident in the fact that some republicans are change their stance on the topic of global
warming and climate change. Surveys have revealed that Americans do believe in climate
change is happening or will happen in their lifetimes, but don’t think it’s an immediate threat to
their everyday life. “The carbon tax isn’t full proof but compared to most other options it has the
most to offer”(Gale 2014).

4. Works Cited
Weeks, Jennifer. "Climate Change." CQ Researcher 14 June 2013: 521-44. Web. 19 June
2014
"Science." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 19 June 2014.