Introduction
The GHG inventory covers the seven direct greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O)
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
- Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)
- Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)
These gases contribute directly to climate change owing to their positive radiative forcing effect. HFCs, PFCs, SF6 and NF3 are collectively known as the ‘F-gases’.
In general terms, the largest contributor to global warming is carbon dioxide which makes it the focus of many climate change initiatives. Methane and nitrous oxide contribute to a smaller proportion, typically <10%, and the contribution of F-gases is even smaller (in spite of their high Global Warming Potentials) at <5% of the total.
Also reported are four indirect greenhouse gases:
- Nitrogen oxides
- Carbon monoxide
- Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC)
- Sulphur dioxide.
Nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and NMVOCs are included in the inventory because they c...
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