- 2069 Bhadra · 1+2+2 marks
Greenhouse gases and global control efforts
Short answer
Major greenhouse gases: CO₂ (fossil fuel combustion, deforestation), CH₄ (paddy fields, cattle), N₂O (fertilisers), and CFCs (refrigerants). Global efforts include the Montreal Protocol phasing out CFCs, the UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol with binding emission targets, and the Paris Agreement aiming to limit warming below 2°C.
What are major gases responsible for causing green house effect and how are they released into the atmosphere? Give an account of the global efforts to control the release of these gases.
Major greenhouse gases and their release
| Gas | Main sources |
|---|---|
| CO₂ (about 60 % of the effect) | Burning of coal, oil, wood; deforestation; cement industry |
| CH₄ | Paddy fields, cattle (rumination), landfills, natural gas leaks, wetlands |
| N₂O | Nitrogenous fertilisers, burning of biomass, nitric acid industry |
| CFCs | Refrigerators, air conditioners, aerosols, foam |
| O₃ (troposphere) | Photochemical reactions of vehicle exhaust (NOx + hydrocarbons) |
Water vapour is also a greenhouse gas but is not increased directly by human activity.
Global efforts to control release
- Montreal Protocol (1987): phase-out of CFCs and related ozone-depleting gases (also GHGs); Kigali Amendment (2016) reduces HFCs.
- UNFCCC (1992, Rio Earth Summit): framework treaty to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations.
- Kyoto Protocol (1997): binding targets for industrialised countries to cut emissions of six GHGs.
- Paris Agreement (2015): all countries make national targets to keep warming well below 2 °C and aim for 1.5 °C above pre-industrial level.
- Nepal has submitted its Nationally Determined Contributions and promotes clean energy and community forestry.
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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