What are Greenhouse Gases?

The principle greenhouse gases according to the Environmental Protection Agency are,
• carbon dioxide—naturally occurring, but also increased by the burning of fossil fuels
• methane—emitted from livestock, landfills and during production and transportation of fossil fuels
• nitrous oxide—emitted during agricultural and industrial processes and during the combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste
• fluorinated gases—substitutes for ozone depleting gases; emitted in smaller quantities than other gases, but considered highly potent (high global warming potential gases)
As you can see, the primary source for these gases is the use of fossil fuels. Is this all your fault? Well, of course not, but it does not mean a blind eye should be turned. Until people can be weaned off of these finite energy sources, it will be difficult to make any headway in the fight against climate change.

Let’s examine why we are even in the current greenhouse gas predicament. Before the Industrial Revolution, there was not as much cause for concern. The most civilized areas of the world were agriculturally based societies. Although livestock waste releases methane gas, this was not a great threat to the global environment. Once oil and coal burning factories began emerging in the 19th century, with no thought of emission controls, the releasing of greenhouse gases began to skyrocket.

The 20th century brought the dawn of the automobile. Even with current emission standards on cars, and some standards on factories, it’s not enough. The widespread dependence upon cars means that greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, despite increasing regulations. All you need to do is look at the air in cities such as Los Angeles, and you can see the results of greenhouse gases.

Developing countries such as China are creating an even bigger crisis. They are emitting pollutants at an even greater rate than the U.S. and Great Britain during the Industrial Revolution. As countries develop technologies, they want to use these advancements to further their economic development.

Why should they have to be regulated during development, when the United States and Europe were allowed to industrialize freely? Although this doesn’t seem fair, developed countries are being encouraged to reduce their emissions by even more than developing ones. Without emission controls, the climate change problem will only spiral even further out of control.