Gases in the atmosphere (such as carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour) act as natural insulators, trapping heat from the sun inside Earths atmosphere. This is because they absorb most of the heat that would normally be mediated out into space. They reradiate this trapped heat in all directions, including back towards Earth.
The level of carbon dioxide can increase due to many factors, some as a result of humans. For example, deforestation (fewer CO2 is removed by photosynthesis) and burning fossil fuels (CO2 that was 'locked' in these fuels is being released).
Although the Earth's temperature naturally varies (interglacial and glacial periods), there is reason to believe that extra CO2 has caused the average temperature to increase.
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