Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Abstract

Increase in greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere due to human activities is one of the contributory factors to global warming and climate change. The dominant greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O); the major sources of emissions are fossil fuel combustion, land-use change and agricultural activities such as livestock rearing and rice production; and the major sectors responsible for the emissions are energy, industrial processes, agriculture, land-use change and forestry (LUCF) and waste. Knowledge of the sources of greenhouse gas emissions, sectoral emissions, contribution of different regions and countries, trends in greenhouse gas emissions, the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and economic development and trends in greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere are critical for global negotiations on combating climate change. So, this chapter is devoted to a discussion of these topics. The focus is on developing countries and the discussion is supported by case studies of greenhouse gas emissions from three countries, namely Argentina, Indonesia and Zimbabwe.