Greenhouse gas sources and sinks

The accumulation of the three major greenhouse gases (GHGs); carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) in the Earth's atmosphere is believed to be mainly responsible for recent global warming and associated climate change. Increased concentrations of GHGs contribute to climate change by trapping excessive heat within the atmosphere and destroying stratospheric ozone. Emissions of GHGs have steadily increased in light of industrialization and pressures to support a growing global human population. There are, however, opportunities to mitigate emissions through use of clean technologies, renewable sources of energy, and modifications to land management that involve more efficient use of inputs and promotion of carbon sequestration. Improvements to current methods of compiling inventories of GHG emissions are needed to ensure that they accurately reflect actual emissions and mitigation measures being taken by industries to reduce GHG emissions.