The burning of fossil fuels negatively impacts the environment by contributing to the enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming. The document discusses how the greenhouse effect traps heat from the Earth's surface, which would otherwise be around -18 degrees Celsius without this effect. However, increased greenhouse gases from human activities like burning fossil fuels are enhancing this effect and causing average global temperatures to rise. This phenomenon is called global warming. The document instructs students to learn more about these topics by watching videos, completing an activity comparing past and present temperatures, and making posters explaining the process of global warming.