Anthropogenic

Scientists use the word “anthropogenic” in referring to environmental change caused or influenced by people, either directly or indirectly. In the context of climate change, the term refers to emissions of greenhouse gases attributable to human activities, such as burning fossil fuels for energy, deforestation, and land-use changes.

The term can also be used to distinguish between carbon that is naturally present in the environment (see "biogenic carbon") and carbon that is present solely due to human activities, primarily the extraction and combustion of fossil fuels.