What human activity has significantly contributed to global warming?

Burning fossil fuels is a major contributor to global warming due to the release of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. When fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas are burned for energy, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide, which traps heat in the atmosphere and leads to an increase in global temperatures. This process enhances the greenhouse effect, resulting in climate change and associated impacts such as extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and changes in ecosystem dynamics.

In contrast, activities such as planting trees, using renewable energy sources, and reducing waste are generally aimed at mitigating climate change. Planting trees can absorb carbon dioxide, renewable energy sources produce little to no greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing waste can lower overall carbon footprints. Therefore, the activity mentioned, burning fossil fuels, is fundamentally linked to the mechanisms driving global warming.