Non-CO2 greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are critical components in understanding and managing global warming. Although CO2 is the most abundant GHG, CH4 and N2O have significantly higher global warming potentials (GWPs) over shorter time horizons—CH4 is about 28-36 times, and N2O about 265-298 times more potent than CO2 over 100 years. Methane primarily originates from agriculture (e.g., livestock digestion), landfills, and fossil fuel extraction, while nitrous oxide mainly comes from agricultural soil management and industrial processes. In GHG inventories, accurately accounting for these non-CO2 gases is essential because they contribute substantially to total radiative forcing despite their lower concentrations. Their shorter atmospheric lifetimes (especially methane) mean that mitigation can yield faster climate benefits. Moreover, controlling CH4 and N2O emissions is often cost-effective and can complement CO2 reduction strategies. Including them in inventories ensures comprehensive emission tracking, informs targeted policies, and improves climate modeling and reporting under frameworks like the UNFCCC and IPCC guidelines. Thus, non-CO2 gases are vital for a complete and effective approach to climate change mitigation.

Published on: 2026-02-07 at 00:15:01