Study Note - Climate Change – Where are the Emissions Coming From?

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is not the only greenhouse gas that is emitted by industry, as methane, nitrogen oxides and halocarbons are also released. These gases are even more effective at absorbing long-wave radiation, and climate scientists believe that their increasing concentrations will have a big impact on global temperatures.

Gases such as methane, nitrogen oxides and halocarbons currently have low concentrations in the atmosphere, but the three are increasing as a result of human activity. The figure below shows the annual c emissions by sector, as a percentage, so you can gain an idea as to the contributions made by sources you may not usually connect with climate change and greenhouse gases, such as agricultural by-products and residential sources.

Source: Smithson et al, 2008, Fundamentals of the Physical Environment, Routledge.