Glossary

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

The most widespread and well-known greenhouse gas, which is produced by the combustion of fossil fuels and other human activities, such as deforestation and biomass burning. CO2 contributes to the greenhouse effect, which leads to global warming and climate change. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions is crucial for environmental protection and mitigating the negative impacts of climate change.

Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e)

CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) is a metric used to express the overall impact of different greenhouse gases on global warming in units of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2). This term allows for the comparison and summation of emissions from various greenhouse gases based on their global warming potential (GWP).

Key points regarding CO2e include:

  • Global Warming Potential (GWP): Each greenhouse gas has a different global warming potential. For example, methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) have a higher GWP than carbon dioxide (CO2), meaning they have a greater impact on global warming.

  • Conversion to CO2e: The amount of greenhouse gas emissions is converted to CO2 equivalent based on their GWP. For instance, if methane has a GWP of 25, it means that 1 ton of methane has the same impact on global warming as 25 tons of CO2.

  • Overall impact: Using CO2e, we can easily summarize the total impact of various greenhouse gases on global warming, which is useful for analyses and reports related to climate change.

The use of CO2e is crucial for assessing and comparing the climate impacts of different activities and policies, helping in the implementation of effective measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are natural energy resources that formed over millions of years from the decomposition of plant and animal remains buried beneath the Earth's surface. The most common fossil fuels include coal, oil, and natural gas. These resources are used for electricity generation, heating, and as transportation fuels.

Fossil fuels are the main source of energy for many industries, but burning them produces greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide (CO2), which contributes to global warming and climate change. In addition, the extraction and processing of fossil fuels can have negative impacts on the environment, including water and soil pollution.

Greenhouse gases

Greenhouse gases are gases that absorb heat in the atmosphere and contribute to the "greenhouse effect." These gases occur naturally, but their levels have significantly increased due to human activities. The main sources of increased greenhouse gases are the production and combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Among the most well-known greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases. The rise in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere contributes to global warming and climate change.