Climate research has shown that three quarters of atmospheric warming since 1850—the beginning of the Industrial Revolution—has been attributed to anthropogenic sources. These anthropogenic sources include fossil fuel burning (primarily coal, gas, and oil) and land use change.
There are many reasons why carbon dioxide is so influential in climate change. Among them, carbon dioxide has a long “residence time:” emissions can stay in the atmosphere for up to 200 years. For instance, emissions from a 1911 Model T Ford are potentially in the atmosphere today. This also means that even if all carbon dioxide emissions were halted today, declines in atmospheric carbon dioxide would only begin after the carbon dioxide cycled out of the atmosphere into another reservoir. Furthermore, carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas most directly responsible for climate change by way of human activities (called anthropogenic climate change). This is also called the enhanced greenhouse effect.
Other Greenhouse gases include methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), tropospheric ozone (O3), halocarbons (CFCs, HFCs, HCFCs), and water vapor (H2Ov). Without them, the earth would on average be about 60 degrees F cooler and the planet would be covered with ice. With this natural greenhouse effect, humans have been able to live and enjoy benefits such as forest and food growth.
Other sources of GHG emissions include plant decomposition and volcanic activity, which contribute to a baseline natural greenhouse effect that makes the world habitable. For example, atmospheric carbon dioxide is taken out of the atmosphere and up into the biosphere through photosynthesis. The carbon can then stay in this “reservoir” until the forest dies and decomposes, is cut down, or is burned. At this time, carbon is then released again to the atmosphere mainly as carbon dioxide.
The average annual Carbon Footprint is 19.1 Tonnes of CO2 for each New Brunswicker.
Here are the estimated CO2 emissions produced in New Brunswick when using electricity or fuel:
Each KWh used produces the equivalent of 550 to 850 grams of CO2 emissions (depending on baseload – i.e. how the power is produced)
Each litre of gasoline used in vehicles, produces the equivalent of 2,468 grams of CO2 emissions.
Each litre of diesel used in vehicles, produces the equivalent of 2,793 grams of CO2 emissions.
Each cubic metre of natural gas used in buildings, produces the equivalent of 1,902 grams of CO2 emissions.
Each litre of oil used in buildings, produces the equivalent of 2,839 grams of CO2 emissions.
For space heating, here is a comparison of CO2 emissions from fuel types:
Greenhouse Gas Emissions 
