Greenhouse Gas Emissions – What are they?
Understanding and addressing environmental impact is now a business imperative. Be it regulators, customers, investors or employees, people now expect companies to play their part in combating climate change and supporting the transition to Net Zero. The road to decarbonisation begins with measuring your GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions and using that insight to develop a carbon reduction strategy.
Yet many businesses lack the knowledge and skills they need to get started. In response, we are writing a series of articles providing a practical guide to GHG emissions. We will explore what they are, why they need to be measured and how to begin the journey to decarbonisation.
What are GHG emissions?
GHG emissions are at the heart of the climate crisis. These gases, once released into the Earth’s atmosphere, trap heat and contribute to global warming. This process that is now accelerating due to human activity.
Although the greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring phenomenon that enables life on Earth by maintaining a stable climate, the rapid increase in emissions since the industrial revolution has intensified this effect, resulting in climate instability and environmental degradation. Understanding what GHG emissions are, how they are generated, and why they matter is essential for governments, businesses and individuals alike.
What are greenhouse gases?
Greenhouse gases are atmospheric gases that absorb and emit infrared radiation. They are a natural part of Earth’s atmosphere and play a crucial role in regulating the planet’s temperature. They help trap heat from the sun, maintaining a stable climate suitable for life. Without them, Earth would be too cold for human habitation.
However, human activities such as the burning fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial processes, agriculture, and waste have a profound impact on climate systems. These activities add more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere than natural systems can absorb, intensifying the greenhouse effect and accelerating global warming.
The principal greenhouse gases associated with human activity include:
Carbon dioxide (CO₂): This is the most prevalent greenhouse gas emitted by human activity. It is primarily released through the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, as well as through deforestation and certain industrial processes like cement production. It remains in the atmosphere for centuries.
Methane (CH₄): Although less abundant than CO₂, methane is over 25 times more potent in terms of its global warming potential over a 100-year period. It is released during the production and transport of coal, oil and natural gas, and from agricultural practices involving livestock and rice cultivation, as well as through organic waste decomposition in landfills.
Nitrous oxide (N₂O): This gas has a global warming potential around 300 times greater than CO₂. It is emitted from agricultural and industrial activities, particularly the use of nitrogen-based fertilisers, as well as from the combustion of biomass and fossil fuels.
Fluorinated gases: These are synthetic gases used in refrigeration, air conditioning, solvents and manufacturing processes. Examples include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃). Though emitted in smaller volumes, they have extremely high warming potentials and long atmospheric lifetimes.
Why this matters?
Human activities are now the dominant source of GHG emissions, and the concentration of these gases is the primary driver of anthropogenic climate change. The acceleration of the greenhouse effect which heats the planet by trapping gases in the lower atmosphere, has significant consequences.
The increasing concentration of GHGs traps more heat in the atmosphere, disrupt Earth’s climate systems. As a result, we are witnessing rising global temperatures, more frequent and severe weather events and rising seas levels due to melting glaciers. Changes in weather patterns also affect agriculture, water resources, and biodiversity, putting pressure on both natural and human systems.
The business case for decarbonisation
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to limiting global temperature rise and preventing the worst impacts of climate change. This requires urgent and coordinated action across all sectors of society, particularly from businesses to transition to a low carbon economy and help meet Net Zero.
Every business has a carbon footprint and a responsibility to manage its impacts. Reducing GHG emissions is not only an environmental imperative but also a compelling business opportunity.
Improving energy efficiency, reducing waste, and embracing renewable energy can significantly lower operational costs. Addressing emissions can also build brand appeal, unlock new revenue streams and meet the changing expectations of customers, investors and employees. Procurement criteria that include emissions data is becoming essential to securing contracts and maintaining relationships with larger, sustainability-focused organisations.
By understanding what GHG emissions are, how they are produced, and how they can be measured and mitigated, companies can not only comply with growing regulatory and supply chain expectations but also contribute meaningfully to a more resilient and sustainable world. Measuring GHG emissions enables businesses to identify hotspots, improve efficiency, cut costs, and meet emerging legal requirements.
Next steps
The first step is starting to calculate your emissions to give you the insight you need to develop a robust carbon reduction strategy. In our next article we will provide a step by step guide to establishing your GHG baseline.
At Wylde Connections we support businesses at every stage of their sustainability journey, including measuring emissions and supporting ESG reporting. We help you go beyond compliance, positioning your business as a trusted, forward-thinking partner. By embedding sustainability into operations, we ensure you’re ready to prove, demonstrate, and showcase your commitment to decarbonisation. Visit www.wyldeconnections.co.uk or book a Discovery Call today.