Greenhouse gases (GHG) are proven to contribute to global warming. This is thanks to their ability to act like the glass in an actual greenhouse, trapping heat and reducing the Earth’s ability to cool itself. This greenhouse effect is actually important, as without these gases that naturally exists in the atmosphere Earth might have been too cold for human life to start or flourish.
Unfortunately too many of them raises the global temperature creating climate change.
Usually Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is used interchangeably when GHGs are mentioned. This is for good reason, as it is the largest proportion of all GHGs that enter the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels, solid waste, trees and other biological materials (and also via certain chemical reactions such as the manufacture of cement).
However after CO2, Methane (CH4), a hydrocarbon that is a primary component of natural gas, is the next largest GHG and about 550 million metric tons of it are emitted into the Earth’s atmosphere each year. With half of the methane volume originating from human activities, there is significant efforts still to go in reducing this gas.
Nitrous Oxide (N2O) is a gas emitted during the burning of fossil fuels and solid waste, the treatment of waste water and in various agricultural, land use & industrial activities. It accounts for around 7% of all GHGs and can only be removed from the atmosphere when it is absorbed by certain bacteria or destroyed by ultraviolet radiation or chemical reactions.
Fluorinated Gases (Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride) are synthetic and powerful gases that make up the smallest percentage. Unlike other GHGs, they have no significant natural sources and originate almost entirely from human-related activities.
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