What emissions are primarily responsible for climate change?

Carbon dioxide and methane are primarily responsible for climate change due to their roles as greenhouse gases. When these gases are emitted into the atmosphere, they trap heat, preventing it from escaping back into space. This process leads to the greenhouse effect, which is essential for maintaining the Earth's temperature, but excessive amounts of these gases can enhance this effect, resulting in global warming and associated climate changes.

Carbon dioxide is released through various activities, including burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. Methane, while present in smaller quantities than carbon dioxide, is significantly more effective at trapping heat, making it a potent greenhouse gas. It is produced through agricultural practices, landfills, and natural gas extraction.

In contrast, the other options consist of gases that do not have the same impact on the greenhouse effect. Nitrogen and oxygen are abundant in the atmosphere but do not contribute to warming. Similarly, hydrogen and sulfur compounds do not significantly contribute to climate change in the same way that carbon dioxide and methane do. Inert gases, such as neon and argon, do not react chemically and have no contribution to climate change either. Thus, the emissions from carbon dioxide and methane are crucial in discussing the drivers of climate change.