Greenhouse gases act similarly to the glass in a greenhouse: they absorb the sun’s heat that radiates from the Earth’s surface, trap it in the atmosphere and prevent it from escaping into space. The greenhouse effect keeps the Earth’s temperature warmer than it would otherwise be, supporting life on Earth.
Many greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, but human activity contributes to their accumulation. As a result, the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere is boosted and it alters our planet’s climate, leading to shifts in snow and rainfall patterns, a rise in average temperatures and more extreme climate events such as heatwaves and floods.
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Which greenhouse gases are there?
There are different types of greenhouse gases and their global warming potential varies.
Naturally occurring gases in the atmosphere – but also generated through human activities – include among others carbon dioxide, methane (CH4), and nitrous Oxide (N2O).
Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) are man-made gases used in industry and they have a high global warming potential, often several thousand times stronger than CO2. They include Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), and Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).
F-gases are often used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances – human-made chemicals that, once emitted, reach the upper atmosphere and destroy the protective ozone layer. Unlike ozone-depleting substances, F-gases do not damage the atmospheric ozone layer.
The following seven types of greenhouse gases are covered by the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, which aim to coordinate the global response to climate change:
Carbon dioxide
CO2 is naturally produced by animals during respiration and through the decay of biomass. It also enters the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels and chemical reactions. It is removed from the atmosphere by plants in the process known as photosynthesis that turns sunlight into energy. That is why forests have an important role in capturing carbon.
Methane
Methane is a colourless gas, which is the main constituent of natural gas. Its emissions result from the production and transport of coal, natural gas and oil, as well as