Greenhouse Gas emissions are releasing gases into the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is a natural process in which these gases trap heat from the sun in the Earth’s atmosphere, helping to maintain a stable temperature on the planet. However, human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, have increased the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere, leading to an enhanced greenhouse effect and causing global warming.
The main greenhouse gases include:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2): Produced by burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and some industrial processes.
- Methane (CH4): Released from agriculture, livestock, landfills, and the production and transport of coal, oil, and natural gas.
- Nitrous oxide (N2O): Emitted from agricultural and industrial activities and burning fossil fuels.
- Fluorinated gases: Synthetic gases, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), are used in various industrial applications.
These gases have different heat-trapping capacities and lifetimes in the atmosphere, but they all contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming. Reducing GHG emissions is crucial to mitigate climate change and its impacts on ecosystems, human health, and the global economy.
