International scientists think the amount of carbon dioxide emissions released into Earth’s atmosphere will rise by two percent in 2017. The number represents the first increase in worldwide carbon emissions in three years. The amount produced was unchanged from 2014 to 2016. Carbon dioxide, known by the chemical expression CO2, is a colorless gas found in nature. Many scientists believe that it and other gases released by factories, vehicles and other human activities are responsible for a general warming on our planet. They believe these gases trap the sun’s heat in the atmosphere. This effect is known as global warming. Last week, scientists with the Global Carbon Project reported that China, the world’s largest producer of CO2, is the main reason for the increase in emissions.
