Greenhouse gasses and emissions are key terms and concepts. To understand climate change and which strategies businesses can implement to effectively tackle it, it’s important to first understand key terms like these.

Greenhouse Gases and Emissions

Emissions are the release of greenhouse gases into the earth’s atmosphere. According to the National Grid, Greenhouse gases are gases that once emitted into the atmosphere, trap the heat in, like a greenhouse does. This is called the greenhouse effect and is a form of naturally occurring climate change. This is an important natural process as trapping in heat helps maintain an average temperature of 14°C, which sustains life.

However, human activities, like industrialisation, have led to an increase of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. This has increased the greenhouse effect, causing a faster than expected increase in average temperature. This is called anthropogenic climate change.

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Examples of greenhouse gases

Carbon Dioxide. This is released during naturally occurring processes, like volcanic eruptions and plant respiration. Industrialisation has also increased the production of CO₂ as it’s produced when fossil fuels are burnt, and trees are felled (deforestation).

Methane. Released naturally during decomposition and it’s also released by landfills, and the traditional production of oil and gas etc.

Nitrous Oxide. Found in soil and natural vegetation and it’s also produced by fertiliser and fossil fuel combustion.

Water Vapour. Produced by evaporation or the sublimation of ice.

The US Environmental Protection Agency designates the above as the main greenhouse gases, but there are others, including man-made ones.

Key Takeaways

• Greenhouse gases are emitted naturally and as a by-product of human actions; and

• Reducing greenhouse emissions is crucial to combatting anthropogenic climate change.

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