Human activity significantly alters the carbon cycle through:

• Burning fossil fuels The combustion of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas for energy releases large amounts of stored carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2_22​)

. About 90% of human-related carbon emissions come from the burning of fossil fuels

• Deforestation Clearing forests for agriculture, urbanization, and other purposes reduces the planet's capacity to absorb CO2_22​

. Burning forests to clear land releases stored carbon directly into the atmosphere

• Land-use changes Activities like deforestation, agriculture, and urbanization contribute to carbon emissions

. Deforestation accounts for approximately 10% of human-related carbon release

• Farming practices Certain agricultural practices and land drainage also release carbon

• Releasing chemicals into the atmosphere Various industrial and agricultural activities emit greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, changing the balance of the climate system

These activities disrupt the natural balance of the carbon cycle, leading to an increase in atmospheric CO2_22​ concentrations

. Since the 1960s, global concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have increased from around 320 ppm to over 400 ppm, the highest level ever recorded

. The ocean and vegetation absorb approximately half of the anthropogenic carbon, while the remaining half is absorbed by the atmosphere

. Increased CO2_22​ levels in the atmosphere intensify the greenhouse effect, contributing to global warming and climate change