What does climate change have to do with electricity?

The use of fossil fuels—like coal, oil, and natural gas—is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions that humans produce. In the District, the largest sources of emissions from fossil fuels includes natural gas for heating, gasoline used to power motor vehicles, and electricity. Greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, build up in the atmosphere and trap the heat of the sun, causing global warming. Using less energy is one way to reduce carbon emissions.