Chemicals are released into the atmosphere through various human activities, primarily as emissions from industrial processes, transportation, energy production, and agricultural practices. One of the most significant chemicals responsible for global warming when released into the atmosphere is carbon dioxide (CO2). The burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas for energy generation, transportation, and heating releases substantial amounts of CO2. Deforestation and land-use changes also contribute to increased CO2 levels as trees, which naturally absorb CO2, are removed. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect. The accumulation of excess CO2, along with other greenhouse gases like methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), enhances this effect, leading to global warming and climate change. Mitigating the release of CO2 and other potent greenhouse gases is essential in the global efforts to combat climate change and its associated impacts.

Dr Gaurav H Tandon thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Heat-trapping gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) absorb this infrared radiation and prevent it from dissipating into space, giving rise to what we know as the greenhouse effect. The accumulation of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is the dominating driver of recent climate change.Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide concentrations are now more abundant in the earth's atmosphere than any time in the last 800,000 years. These greenhouse gas emissions have increased the greenhouse effect and caused the earth's surface temperature to rise. Carbon dioxide (CO2): Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil), solid waste, trees and other biological materials, and also as a result of certain chemical reactions. Usually, primary pollutants are directly emitted from a process, such as ash from a volcanic eruption, the carbon monoxide gas from a motor vehicle exhaust or sulfur dioxide released from factories. Secondary pollutants are not emitted directly. One example is ground-level ozone. These include acid deposition—such as acid fog, acid rain, and acid snow—oxidants formed in the atmosphere mainly by photochemical activities—such as O3, NO2, and peroxyacylnitrates—and radioactive fallout. Chemistry plays an important role in determining the current state and the predictions of the future state of earth's climate because a large number of agents that force earth's climate are chemically active. Chemical processes in the atmosphere determine the abundances and properties of atmospheric forcing agents. Carbon dioxide is the most notorious greenhouse gas, and for good reason. It is the single largest human-caused contributor to climate change. Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas contributing to recent climate change. Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels, solid waste, trees, and other biological materials, and as a result of certain chemical reactions, such as cement manufacturing. Major sources of toxic air pollutants outdoors include emissions from coal-fired power plants, industries, and refineries, as well as from cars, trucks and buses. Indoor air also can contain hazardous air pollutants from sources that include tobacco smoke, building materials like asbestos, and chemicals like solvents. These pollutants can be consumed or absorbed by fish and wildlife, which in turn may be eaten by us. Chemicals can also get into sediments, impacting large coastal areas, threatening human health, and reducing the economic well being of regions that depend on a healthy coastal environment. But methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are also important agents of global warming some of them are actually much more potent than CO2 and they stick around for hundreds to thousands of years longer.Climate change may increase our exposure to chemicals. More frequent and intense storms may increase the likelihood of flooding, causing chemicals held in underground storage tanks, landfills, and storm debris to leak or spread to previously unsoiled areas. By adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, people are supercharging the natural greenhouse effect, causing global temperature to rise. More frequent and intense drought, storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and warming oceans can directly harm animals, destroy the places they live, and wreak havoc on people's livelihoods and communities. As climate change worsens, dangerous weather events are becoming more frequent or severe.