Greenhouse gases are people who lure warmth within the environment. SF6 and different fluorinated gases could be hundreds of occasions extra highly effective at warming the planet than carbon dioxide, and but, as a result of they have an inclination to flee in comparatively small quantities, we rarely discuss them. Taken alone, their results may be minor in contrast with these of carbon dioxide, however collectively, these gases add considerably to the problem of addressing local weather change.
For extra on the specifics of sulfur hexafluoride, try my story from earlier this week. And within the meantime, right here’s a fast cheat sheet on a very powerful greenhouse gases it’s essential learn about.
Carbon dioxide: The main actor
I couldn’t in good conscience put collectively an inventory of greenhouse gases and never at the very least point out the massive one. Human actions launched 37.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the environment in 2023. It’s probably the most ample greenhouse gasoline we emit, and probably the most vital one driving local weather change.
It’s tough to nail down precisely how lengthy CO2 stays within the environment, for the reason that gasoline participates in a worldwide carbon cycle—some will instantly be soaked up by oceans, forests, or different ecosystems, whereas the remainder lingers within the environment for hundreds of years.
Carbon dioxide comes from almost each nook of our financial system—the biggest supply is energy vegetation, adopted by transportation after which industrial actions.
Methane: The flash within the pan
Methane can be a robust contributor to local weather change, making up about 30% of the warming we’ve skilled so far, regardless that carbon dioxide is roughly 200 occasions extra ample within the environment.
