Description Fossil fuels heat our homes. They power cars, trucks, and planes. But every use of these fuels adds to rising temperatures on Earth. And they are nonrenewable. Someday, they will run out. . Since the 1800s, people have studied the effects of burning fossil fuels. This process puts gases in the air that contribute to climate change. Examine how fossil fuels have been used and the effect they have on our planet's climate.