Misconceptions have mostly raised questions such as: Is a greenhouse gas carbon dioxide? Is CO2 the only greenhouse gas? What exactly is a greenhouse gas?
While Wikipedia defines a greenhouse gas as a gas that absorbs and emits radiant energy within the thermal infrared range, causing the greenhouse effect, NASA simplifies it as follows: "Greenhouse gases are gases in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat. They let sunlight pass through the atmosphere, but they prevent the heat that sunlight brings from leaving the atmosphere."
Carbon dioxide is one of the known greenhouse gases and is the most emitted by humans. However, there are other greenhouse gases, namely: methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and ozone.
The Effect of Greenhouse Gases on Climate
The Industrial Revolution brought about a series of technologies, and at the same time, numerous fossil fuel resources were discovered and used to drive the planet's growth.
However, the relentless use of technology by humans has led to excessive CO2 production. Carbon dioxide, along with other greenhouse gases, often remains concentrated in the atmosphere when emitted, trapping heat and warming the planet.
Who emits | How they emit |
|---|---|
Vehicles cars, airplanes, boats, spacecraft | Burning various fuels for transportation, such as natural gas, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, fuel oil, naphtha, propane, etc. Note: An average passenger vehicle emits approximately 4.6 tons of carbon dioxide per year. Cars also produce methane and nitrous oxide from the exhaust and hydrofluorocarbon emissions from air conditioning leaks. (Source) |
Energy Producers | Combustion of fossil fuels to generate the heat needed to power steam turbines. Note: Coal is the largest source of electricity in the world. Coal-fired power plants currently supply 37% of global electricity, and IEA data shows that coal will still generate 22% of the world's electricity in 2040. (Source) With approximately 6,300 TWh, natural gas accounted for about 24% - or a quarter - of global electricity production in 2020. (Source) |
Manufacturing Industries (refineries, chemical plants, steel mills, construction, etc.) | Process emissions from power plants and chemical manufacturing facilities. Energy consumption. |
Energy Consumption (Residential and Commercial Buildings) | Water heating, air conditioning, cooking, etc. Burning natural gas through vehicles, generators, and industrial machines. |
Mechanized Agriculture (Fertilizer industries, meat industries) | Production of urea-based fertilizer. To produce urea, CO2 emitted during ammonia production is captured and reused. Intensive livestock farming. When animals like cows and buffaloes graze and digest, they release methane. |
Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Europe in 2019 by Sector*
*All sectors excluding land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF). Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)
What Happens If the Planet Overheats?
Various studies have shown how scientists have been aware of greenhouse gases and their effects on Earth since the 1800s.
While some claim that in 1859, Irish physicist John Tyndall was the first to discover the effects of greenhouse gases, others attribute it to Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius, who in 1896 stated that burning fossil fuels could cause global warming. More recently, a publication in the American Journal of Science and Arts suggests that Eunice Foote presented her findings at a major U.S. scientific conference in 1856, describing how she filled glass jars with water vapor, carbon dioxide, and air and compared how much they warmed in the sun.
In all these studies, one thing was common - greenhouse gases would negatively impact Earth - and so far, they have all been correct. The rate of increase of greenhouse gases has accelerated since measurements began, from about 0.7 ppm per year in the late 1950s to 2.1 ppm per year in the last ten years.
Over the past 800,000 years, CO2 has fluctuated between about 180 ppm during ice ages and 280 ppm during warm interglacial periods. Today’s rate of increase is 100 times faster than the rise that occurred at the end of the last ice age. (source)
To Date, Global Warming Has Caused:
Glacier melting
Scientists state that the Arctic is warming twice as fast as any other part of the Earth. As temperatures rise, sea ice melts and flows into the ocean. The sea level then rises above the required level, and the excess water floods coastal areas.
Coastal communities experience devastating floods, marine animals are affected by warming waters, and phenomena such as hurricanes, tsunamis, and typhoons become more frequent.
Heatwaves
Excessive heat has caused many damages in the past, but in recent years, the consequences have been devastating. Since June 2022, temperatures have reached peaks of 50 degrees Celsius in Europe, the United States, and Canada, causing droughts, wildfires, and the melting of polar ice caps.
Wildfires
According to a report from worldsocialistwebsite.org, since 2022, France alone has lost 60,901 hectares to fire, while across Europe, 615,341 hectares have burned, resulting in 7 deaths, 211 injuries, and at least 65,000 displaced people.
In 2020, Australia recorded a loss of 18 million hectares, with over 5,000 buildings and homes destroyed and many human and animal casualties.
Beyond all this, wildfires have caused air and water pollution, economic damage, food shortages that led to the death of many animals, and much more.
Our planet has existed for about 5 billion years, and in the past, humanity has witnessed temperature fluctuations. However, in recent years, there has been an unprecedented increase, and human activities are responsible.
The Possibility of Zero CO2 Emissions vs. Net Zero
Both terms have different meanings and are often misused.
Zero carbon emissions in its literal sense would mean that all humanity must cease to exist because as long as people exist, they will continue to live—and living means emitting carbon dioxide.
Net Zero, on the other hand, is an alternative way to flatten the curve and neutralize carbon dioxide emissions, similar to carbon neutrality.
This means that while humanity continues to generate carbon dioxide, measures would be in place to ensure that whatever is generated does not increase the overall concentration of carbon dioxide, or if it does, the increase occurs at a very slow rate that does not threaten humanity’s survival.
How to Calculate Your Carbon Footprint
The carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by your daily lifestyle.
To help individuals and organizations offset or neutralize their carbon emissions, experts have created free digital tools like the carbon footprint calculator.
Discover how your daily activities contribute to carbon dioxide emissions.
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