It comes as no surprise to most people that the idea of ​​global warming is a highly controversial and debated topic. But is there any concrete evidence that global warming is a growing problem, or is it just a scare tactic used to get people to comply with strict government regulations? It is widely believed that global warming is the main cause of the increase in average global temperatures. In reality, global warming is not quite what it is made out to be. Many of the predicted effects of global warming have actually proven to be false over time. First, global warming is said to be caused by the high levels of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by humans. Smoke from factories, vehicle exhaust, and the burning of fossil fuels such as coal in power plants are the primary sources of carbon dioxide. The theory is that carbon dioxide released into Earth's atmosphere steadily accumulates because it cannot escape into space. The theory as to why carbon dioxide in the atmosphere actually causes an increase in Earth's average temperature is outlined as follows: Most of the light energy from the sun is emitted in wavelengths less than 4,000 nanometers (0 ,000004 meters). The thermal energy released by the earth, however, is released in wavelengths greater than 4,000 nanometers. Carbon dioxide does not absorb the sun's energy, but it does absorb some of the heat energy released by the earth. When a carbon dioxide molecule absorbs thermal energy, it enters an excited and unstable state. It can become stable again by releasing the absorbed energy. Some of the released energy will return to earth and some will go into space. (How carbon dioxide works...... center of paper ......ry. Np, July 29, 2011. Web. November 10, 2013. .Levin, Mark R.. “On Enviro-statism. " Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto. New York: Threshold Editions, 2009. 137. Print.Lieberman, Ben. “Green Job Subsidies Will Destroy Far More Jobs Than They Create.” November 10, 2013. .Pogue , David. “New Reasons to Change Light Bulbs.” The New York Times March 21, 2013, New York ed.: B1. “The Beacon Center of Tennessee.” Np, 25 February 2007. Web. 10 November. 2013. .