Which greenhouse gas is primarily responsible for climate change?

Carbon dioxide is primarily responsible for climate change due to its significant involvement in the greenhouse effect, which is the process by which certain gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. This gas is released into the atmosphere through various human activities, most notably the combustion of fossil fuels for energy, deforestation, and industrial processes.

The large volume of carbon dioxide emitted over the years has elevated its concentration in the atmosphere, leading to an enhanced greenhouse effect, which results in global warming and related climate change phenomena. Its long atmospheric lifetime further amplifies its impact, as it continues to influence the climate for decades to centuries after being emitted.

While other gases, such as methane and nitrous oxide, contribute to climate change and possess a higher global warming potential on a per molecule basis, carbon dioxide remains the most abundant greenhouse gas emitted by human activity. Therefore, its role in driving climate change is more significant due to quantity and persistence in the atmosphere.