Climate change protest sign written on a disused advertising billboard in front of the main smokestack at a coal-fired power station. The burning of coal at power stations increases the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, and is considered to be a major cause of human-induced global warming, an example of climate change. This is Didcot A Power Station near Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK. The power station began generating electricity in 1968, mostly burning coal, but also using some natural gas. The main smokestack is 198 metres tall. Didcot A has the capacity to produce 2000 MW (megawatts) of power.