Final answer:
Deforestation reduces the number of trees that use carbon dioxide and store carbon in plant fibers, leading to increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and contributing to climate change.
Step-by-step explanation:
Deforestation reduces the number of trees that use carbon dioxide and store carbon in plant fibers. The burning of wood or carbon-based energy sources such as oil or coal releases the carbon back into the atmosphere. This leads to a rise in the activity of the carbon cycle, resulting in increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. As more carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere, climate change occurs. The removal of trees through deforestation results in less carbon dioxide being removed from the atmosphere, which contributes to climate change.