Resources
How to understand Greenhouse Gases? Causes and Effects
2025-06-06
GHG Inventory Knowledge
visual GHG emission analysis
What Are Greenhouse Gases?

Greenhouse gases are gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat, they allow sunlight in and prevent part of heat brought by sunlight from leaving the atmosphere. This is ‘greenhouse effect’ that keeps our planet warm enough to support life. However, when the concentration of these gases increases beyond natural level, it leads to global warming and climate changes which are harmful to both nature and human.

Sources of four main Greenhouse Gases

1. Carbon Dioxide (CO₂): burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), deforestation, industrial processes, transportation, etc.
2. Methane (CH₄): landfills, agriculture (especially livestock digestion), oil and gas extraction, etc.
3. Nitrous Oxide (N₂O): agricultural fertilizers, sewage treatment, industrial processes, etc.
4. Fluorinated Gases: refrigeration, air conditioning, manufacturing processes, etc.
These gases differ in how strongly they trap heat and how long they can stay in the atmosphere. Scientists always use the method called global warming potential (GWP) measurement to compare them.

How Do Greenhouse Gases Cause Climate Change?

When GHGs accumulate in the atmosphere, they gradually enhance the natural greenhouse effect by trapping more heat, and this results in higher Earth’s average temperature. This process, known as anthropogenic (human-caused) global warming, may lead to: melting glaciers and rising sea levels, extreme weather events (heatwaves, hurricanes, droughts), ocean acidification, disruption of ecosystems and biodiversity, etc.

Conclusion

While GHGS are essential for life, excessive human-induced emissions would cause harmful climate disruptions. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change, we must take collective action toward sustainable solutions and low-carbon technologies.

More Resources

Product carbon footprint is total lifecycle GHG emissions of a product, calculated as activity data times emission factors. It supports CBAM compliance, supply chain access and carbon labeling, and cuts enterprise costs. Standard methods solve accounting problems like data collection and standard adaptation.

Carbon Footprint

The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism has officially entered the taxation stage in 2026. It covers six high carbon products and the coverage scope will continue to expand. Product carbon emission accounting includes five key processes. Enterprises can build an MRV system, complete EU accredited third party verification in advance and ensure data authenticity and traceability to prevent compliance risks and reduce carbon costs.

CBAM

Product carbon footprint is the core prerequisite for CBAM compliance of EU export enterprises they share the same accounting core with reusable data and carbon footprint serves as the tax basis for CBAM. They differ in compliance attributes and accounting scope small and medium enterprises have simplified methods for carbon footprint accounting and the accounted data can realize compliance adaptation cost reduction efficiency improvement and brand value increment.

Carbon Footprint

Product carbon footprint is the data basis of carbon labels which are its visual carriers with differences in attributes and functions. Carbon labels have three types and their proper application is key for enterprise low carbon compliance and green trade.

Carbon Footprint

Product carbon footprint is the core prerequisite for CBAM compliance of EU export enterprises. They share the same accounting core and reusable data, and carbon footprint determines CBAM tariff. They differ in scope and compliance; CBAM covers production-stage emissions. SMEs have simplified accounting methods for compliance, cost reduction and brand enhancement.

CBAM Carbon Footprint