Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas are formed from the remains of organic matter that was buried and compressed over millions of years. When these fuels are burned for energy, the carbon stored in them is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. This disrupts the natural carbon cycle by adding more carbon to the atmosphere than can be absorbed by natural processes like photosynthesis and ocean absorption. This excess carbon contributes to climate change by trapping heat in the atmosphere and causing global temperatures to rise.
