Greenhouse gases, also referred to as GHGs, are gases in the atmosphere that trap heat. During the day, the sun shines through the atmosphere and warms the Earth’s surface, and at night, the Earth’s surface cools, releasing the heat back into the air. These gases act much like the walls of a greenhouse, and without this greenhouse effect, temperatures would drop to as low as 18˚C (-0.4˚F) – making the planet too cold to sustain life. The Earth has a natural greenhouse effect due to trace amounts of water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in the atmosphere.
However, a build-up of greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide (CO2), is causing the warming of the climate throughout the world. There are both natural and human sources of CO2 emissions, with natural sources including ocean release and decomposition. Human sources of these emissions include energy production, the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have been releasing large amounts of greenhouse gases into the Earth’s atmosphere. Over the past century, the amount has increased, resulting in the effect of global warming. Global temperatures have accelerated in the past 30 years and are the highest since records began. Worldwide, 2016 was the warmest year on record, 2020 was the second-warmest, and 2012–2021 was the warmest decade on record since thermometer-based observations began, and the global average surface temperature has risen at an average rate of 0.08 degrees Celsius per decade since 1901 [ref].
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1. Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Industry
The industry sector produces vast amounts of materials and raw goods that we use every day and the greenhouse gases that are emitted during production fit into 2 categories: direct emissions and indirect emissions. Direct emissions are produced in the facilities, while indirect emissions take place offsite but are associated with the facilities’ electricity usage.
In 2020, direct industrial emissions made up 24% of the total US greenhouse gas emissions, this makes it the 3rd largest contributor to US greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and industry increased by 5.3 percent in 2021 to reach a record high of 37.12 billion metric tons (GtCO2).
Reducing CO2 Emissions by Source: Industry
- Emissions Monitoring and Intelligence: With cutting-edge sensor innovation, GHGSat is at the forefront of emissions detection technology, making it possible to locate individual sources and detect ever smaller emissions.
- Energy Efficiency: Making use of more efficient industry technologies and identifying ways for manufacturers to use less energy to heat and light plants, factories and equipment.
- Fuel Switching: Switching to fuels that result in fewer CO2 emissions but the same amount of energy when combusted.
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2. CO2 Emissions in Electricity Production
The burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity is one of the primary human activities contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and CO2 emissions. While clean energy is becoming more available across the world.
Much of the world’s electricity comes from the burning of fossil fuels, and today, 63.3% of global electricity usage relies on sources that emit CO2 and other greenhouse gases. In fact, in 2021, the US alone relied on natural gas to generate 38% of its electricity, coal to generate 22% and other petroleum products to generate 1% [ref].
Today, all electricity generation technologies emit greenhouse gases at a point in their lifecycle, and over 40% of energy-related CO2 emissions are due to the burning of fossil fuels for electricity. These energy-related emissions account for the majority of all anthropogenic (environmental change caused or influenced by human activity) greenhouse gas emissions. However, just 20% of final energy consumption is in the form of electricity, but the generation of electricity is responsible for above 40% of all energy-related emissions [ref].
Reducing CO2 Emissions by Source: Electricity Production
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Precision Emissions Intelligence: GHGSat’s precision emissions intelligence is able to analyze trends and emission patterns to better inform business decisions, streamline electricity generation operations and uncover mitigation opportunities. We monitor the whole value chain but specifically at the production/extraction level of fossil fuels before transformation to energy. Our data can help operator efficiency to bring cleaner products into the electricity generation process.
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Fuel Switching & Fuel Efficiency: Increased efficiency of existing fossil fuel plants through advanced technologies and changing generation from higher-emitting to lower-emitting plants. Converting coal-fired plants to natural gas.
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Renewable Energy: Increasing total electricity generated from hydro, geothermal, wind and solar sources as well as certain biofuel sources.
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3. CO2 Emissions in Transportation
The accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere contributes to climate change, and the most prevalent of the greenhouse gases is Carbon Dioxide. CO2 is released when fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, and oil are burned, and these gases are used to power transportation, namely gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel.
According to the Inventory of U.S Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990-2020, greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector account for around 27% of the total US greenhouse gas emissions. This makes it the largest contributor of US greenhouse gas emissions. CO2 emissions represent around 97% of the global warming potential of all greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
On a global scale, 95% of the world’s transport energy still comes from fossil fuels, and for 45% of countries, transport is still the biggest source of energy-related emissions [ref].
Reducing CO2 Emissions by Source: Transportation
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Fuel Efficiency: Through advanced technology, material and design, fuel-efficient vehicles are being developed. The consistent development of hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles will help in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector.
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Fuel Switching: Biofuels and renewable energy are less carbon-intensive and this kind of fuel switching can help reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere
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4. Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Commercial and Residential Sectors
The commercial and residential sector includes commercial businesses and homes, and greenhouse gas emissions from this sector come from direct emissions such as heating, cooking, waste management and wastewater.
Direct emissions from the commercial and residential sectors are produced in a variety of ways, including the combustion of natural gas and petroleum products used for heating and cooking. In 2020, US emissions from natural gas consumption in the sector made up 78% of direct fossil fuel CO2 emissions.
The sector also consists of indirect emissions that happen offsite but are associated with the use of electricity used by businesses and homes. Indirect emissions in this sector are produced by the burning of fossil fuels at power plants to make electricity, which is then used to power commercial and residential activities.
Reducing CO2 Emissions by Source: Commercial and Residential
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Heating: Add insulation to your home or business and set your thermostat lower in the winter months and higher in the summer. By adding insulation, residential and commercial properties are able to reduce their carbon footprint by around 30% while saving on cooling and heating costs [ref].
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Waste Management Technology: Quantify emissions from landfills and dumpsites with GHGSat’s unique satellite emissions monitoring service. GHGSat provides accurate, timely, and persistent coverage – anywhere in the world – at a lower cost than on-the-ground readings. GHGSat provides accurate and timely coverage of emissions – anywhere in the world – at a lower cost and safer alternative than on-the-ground readings. Plan and optimize gas collection systems with actionable emissions intelligence.
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Waste Management: The solid waste that decomposes in landfills is mostly made up of methane and carbon dioxide. Reducing the amount of solid waste sent to landfills is an efficient waste management solution. There are many options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from waste, and these include waste reduction programs, recycling and landfill methane capture programs.
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Wastewater Treatment: In the US, wastewater and drinking water make up 2% of energy use in the US. This is why it’s important to develop more energy-efficient water and wastewater systems. By using energy efficiency practices in wastewater and water, it is possible to save 15% – 30% in residential and commercial energy use.
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5. Carbon Dioxide Emissions in the Agriculture Sector
The global food system is responsible for 21-37% of annual greenhouse gas emissions, as reported using the 100-year GWP. Agricultural activity generates close to half of all anthropogenic methane emissions and 3 ¼ of anthropogenic Nitrous Oxide emissions [ref]. Agriculture is a major source of methane, a greenhouse gas that is 84 times more potent than CO2 over 20 years [ref]. While cattle farming (beef production) is responsible for 3.7% of all emissions, with the world’s 1.4 billion cows each burping up to 500 liters of CH4 per day due to a digestive process known as ‘enteric fermentation’. The management of livestock manure contributes to methane and nitrous oxide emissions, with manure management accounting for 12% of greenhouse gas emissions from the sector in the US.
A smaller amount of CO2 emissions occur directly from agricultural production, but energy-use CO2 from agricultural operations such as tractor fuel or fertilizer manufacturing and transportation can be considered food system emissions in the sector. The food system also contributes to land use change CO2 emissions. Due to the clearing of land for pasture or crop production and net land use, related CO2 emissions are estimated to be responsible for 14% of annual anthropogenic CO2 emissions, with 10% linked directly to the agricultural sector.
Reducing CO2 Emissions by Source: Agriculture
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Improved Livestock Management Using supplements to reduce methane emissions in livestock and improve pasture quality.
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Crop Management: Adjust the management of growing crops and land, such as draining water from wetlands and rice soils to reduce methane emissions and monitoring nitrogen application when it comes to fertilizing crops to ensure no over-application occurs.
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Ground Monitoring Technology: These systems can be used for continuous methane emissions monitoring for oil and gas facilities, landfills and agricultural operations.
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GHG Emission Tracking Technology: GHGSat satellites monitor thousands of sites every day at a low cost to support immediate climate action.
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Technology to Monitor, Mitigate and Reduce CO2 Emissions by Source
With state-of-the-art and pioneering emission monitoring solutions, GHGSat delivers actionable metrics and insights critical to production, environmental and financial decision-making. This emission intelligence empowers carbon-intensive industries, sectors and governments to achieve their emission reduction goals.
GHGSat launched a free version of its emissions intelligence platform, SPECTRA. This subscription includes the highest resolution methane concentration map available online for free, as well as access to a gallery of satellite methane measurement samples from GHGSat.
Explore accurate emissions data like never before.
