What are Greenhouse Gases?
Greenhouse gases are gases surrounding our planet that act as a barrier to prevent the loss of heat into outer space. By trapping heat, they contribute to global warming. The warming of the earth’s surface due to greenhouse gases is called the greenhouse effect.
Greenhouse gases are gases surrounding our planet that act as a barrier to prevent the loss of heat into outer space. By trapping heat, they contribute to global warming. The warming of the earth’s surface due to greenhouse gases is called the greenhouse effect.
Some common greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, etc. They are essential for life on earth - but must be maintained at an optimum level. The global issue today is the abundant emissions of greenhouse gases and the continuous warming of the earth's atmosphere as a consequence.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a colorless gas that's a by-product of the combustion of organic matter. Today human activities are pumping huge amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, resulting in an overall increase in carbon dioxide concentrations.
Methane occurs naturally when organic material decomposes. Man-made processes produce methane in several ways:
• By extracting it from coal
• From large herds of livestock (i.e., digestive gases)
• From the bacteria in rice paddies
• Decomposition of garbage in landfills
How do we contribute to Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
We contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming through various ways in our everyday lives. Some of the major sources are outlined below.
Energy
The electricity that operates many of the devices in our homes comes from a power plant and most power plants burn fossil fuels to generate that power. So it's important we turn lights and other appliances off when we're not using them.
Transportation
Vehicles emit tons of greenhouse gases every day. Taking a bus to work even once a week makes a difference. The amount of greenhouse gases you prevent depends on the distance of course. But suppose taking the bus both ways saves about 40 kg of greenhouse gas each week: this adds up to about 2000 kg you saved per year!
Water
Did you know that wasting water contributes to greenhouse gases? When you waste water you're using electricity (to pump the water to the treatment plant), chemicals (for treating the water coming in and the waste water you're producing) and fuel and labor to get the treatment chemicals to your town.
Waste
Don't burn garbage. This releases carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons into the atmosphere. It's much better to compost.
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Food and Garden
Buy locally whenever possible. This reduces the emissions that result from transporting foods from other countries and continents.
When it comes to your own garden, try to minimise nitrogen fertilizer, which is produced by combustion (using energy) and when spread on soil releases nitrous oxide.
Tend mature trees, and plant new ones and other plant life where you can. Plants take carbon dioxide out of the air and release oxygen.
Some International Facts:
Some International Facts:
At the international level, the Kyoto Protocol treaty was written to reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Thirty-five industrialized nations have committed to reducing their output of those gases to varying degrees. The United States, the world's primary producer of greenhouse gases, did not sign the treaty.
The Canadian target for the Kyoto Protocol is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6% below 1990 levels by 2012.
< from http://www.climatechangehamilton.ca>
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