Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gases in the atmosphere act like a big, invisible blanket around the Earth. When the sun shines on our planet, it sends down light and warmth. The Earth absorbs some of this warmth and then sends some of it back into the air as heat. Normally, this heat would go back into space, but gases like carbon dioxide trap some of it.

Imagine you're in your bed at night, and you have a blanket over you. The blanket keeps you warm by trapping your body heat. Carbon dioxide works in a similar way. It traps the heat that the Earth sends back into the atmosphere, keeping our planet warm. This process is called the greenhouse effect because it’s similar to how a greenhouse keeps plants warm inside.

Besides carbon dioxide, other gases like methane and nitrous oxide also trap heat. These gases come from things like cars, factories, and even from cows! When we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas for energy, we release more of these gases into the atmosphere. More greenhouse gases mean a thicker blanket, which makes the Earth even warmer.

This warming effect is important for life on Earth because it keeps our planet at the right temperature for plants, animals, and people to live. But when we add too much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, it makes the Earth too warm, causing problems like melting ice, rising sea levels, and changing weather patterns. That’s why it’s important to find ways to reduce the amount of these gases we put into the air.