Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

A lot is talked about carbon trading, energy management, carbon foot print, reduce carbon emission etc and relates to greenhouse effect. What is it all about?

The greenhouse effect refers to the change in the thermal equilibrium of the earth (or a planet) by the presence of an atmosphere containing gas that absorbs and emits infrared radiation. The accumulation of greenhouse gases in atmosphere from the early days of industrialisation (more than 200 years) changed the upper atmosphere and now acts as greenhouse trapping more heat within the earth’s atmosphere and creating the effect of global warming.

Greenhouse gases (GHG) - some of the most significant are
- Water vapour
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O)
- Methane (CH4)
- Ozone
- Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)

International bodies has identified the threat to the earth and urged to manage the situation. Guidance and initiatives in this regard are:
- World business council for sustainable development / World resource institute (WBCSD/WRI) published GHG protocol in 1998
- International Organisation for Standardisation’s ISO 14064, Parts 1-3 in 2008
- ISO 14065 and ISO 14066 (to come soon).
- Kyoto Protocol

Industrial and regulatory bodies are also in the process of incorporation GHG initiatives (quantify emissions etc.) into the environmental management system (policy and procedures).

Greenhouse gases are essential to maintaining the temperature of the Earth (otherwise the average temperature drops to -18oC), but excess of greenhouse gas can result in global warming (increase in the average measured temperature) and climate change.
Hence it is quite important to maintain a fine balance for the future of the Earth.