Observe the sentences above ,and think about the function of “it” here?
“It” is used for emphasis(强调) here.
In the article there are two more similar sentences.
1. It was a scientist called Charles Keeling ,who made accurate measurements of the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from 1957 to 1997.
2.They also agree that it is the burning of more and more fossil fuels that has resulted in this increase in carbon dioxide.