The Greenhouse Effect The greenhouse effect is another alarming problem that we have encountered through our own negligence. The earth's atmosphere consists of mostly nitrogen along with oxygen and small amounts of other gases. One of these gases, carbon dioxide, affects the temperature on the earth. The earth already contains the amount of carbon dioxide needed. Through the burning of fossil fuels used to power our cars, run our factories, and heat our homes more and more carbon dioxide is given off. Another factor is the destruction of forests that use the carbon dioxide for food. The huge amounts of carbon dioxide are trapping heat in the earth's atmosphere increa