Greenhouse gas emissions: the biggest cause

Greenhouse gas emissions: the biggest cause

The dramatic increase in greenhouse gases in the earth results in global warming and climate change. It is an urgent task for all of us to cope with the effects of climate change and to determine the causes of it. In this context, the main cause of greenhouse gas emissions should be identified in order to be able to develop effective solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

What are greenhouse gases?

Greenhouse gases are gases in the earth's atmosphere that absorb the solar radiation and then radiate to the surface of the earth. This leads to an increase in global average temperatures, known as the greenhouse effect. The most important greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fluorinated gases.

carbon dioxide (CO2)

Carbon dioxide is the best-known greenhouse gas and, according to the World Bank almost 76% of the total greenhouse gas emissions. The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas.

methane (CH4)

Methane contributes around 16% to global greenhouse gas emissions. It is mainly produced by agricultural processes such as cattle breeding and rice cultivation as well as by breaking down coal, oil and natural gas.

nitrogen oxides (nox)

Nitrogen oxides, including stabic oxide (N2O), contribute around 6% to global greenhouse gas emissions. The main sources are industrial activities, the use of nitrogen fertilizers in agriculture as well as through combustion processes in engines and heating systems.

fluorinated gases

Fluorinated gases only make up a small part of the total emissions, but often have a much greater greenhouse potential than CO2. They are often used in air conditioning systems, refrigerators and in the electronics industry.

The main causes of greenhouse gas emissions

The main causes for greenhouse gas emissions can be roughly divided into four sectors: energy, industry, agriculture and traffic.

Energy

Energy production is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, since the majority of energy generation is still based on the combustion of fossil fuels. Thermal power plants that burn coal, oil or natural gas emit large amounts of CO2. In addition, oil and gas production and coal mining also contribute to the greenhouse gas emission.

Industry

The industry is also an important cause of greenhouse gases. This includes the manufacturing industry, such as the steel and cement industry, which have high energy consumption and emit CO2 during their production processes. In addition, industrial processes and chemical reactions in industry lead to emissions of CH4, NOX and fluorinated gases.

agriculture

Agriculture contributes to the increase in greenhouse gas concentration in particular through methane and nitrogen oxide emissions. Animal husbandry, especially cattle, emit methane through digestive processes, while nitrogen oxides are primarily caused by the use of nitrogen fertilizers. In addition, the conversion of forests into agricultural land leads to the release of CO2 stored in the trees.

traffic

Road, ship, air and air traffic is responsible for a large part of global CO2 emissions because they are largely based on fossil fuels. Road vehicles such as cars, trucks and motorcycles are the largest issuers in the traffic sector.

approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

There are different approaches to lower the emissions of greenhouse gases. These range from political and social measures such as international climate agreements and a change in consumer behavior to technical solutions such as the use of renewable energies and the development of CO2 departure and storage technologies.

political and social measures

At the global level, international climate conviction, such as the Paris Agreement, can oblige countries to reduce their emissions. At the social level, a change in consumer behavior, for example by increased use of public transport, can contribute to reducing emissions.

technical solutions

Technical solutions include the use of renewable energies, such as wind, solar and hydropower, for electricity generation. These energies do not generate greenhouse gas emissions during their use. In addition, technologies for CO2 separation and storage are developed, which enable it to remove and save CO2 from the atmosphere.

end

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is one of the greatest challenges that humanity faces. In order to cope with this problem, a comprehensive strategy that both identifies the main causes of emissions and provides effective solutions for reducing emissions. It is up to all of us - from individuals to governments to companies - to actively contribute to solving this global challenge.