Emissions

Emissions means the release of greenhouse gases and/or their precursors into the atmosphere over a specified area and period of time. These greenhouse gas emissions have increased the greenhouse effect and caused the earth's surface temperature to rise (causing climate change).

What are the 7 greenhouse gases (GHG)?

• Carbon dioxide (CO2)
• Methane (CH4)
• Nitrous oxide (N2O)
• Industrial gases:
  • Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
  • Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
  • Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
  • Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)

Air pollutants like ammonia (NH3) are the other type of gaseous emissions from agriculture. They are not greenhouse gases, but they do negatively impact on human and animal health while also damaging ecosystems.

What are the 3 largest sources of emissions?

Carbon dioxide (CO2) accounts for about 76% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Methane, primarily from agriculture, contributes 16% of greenhouse gas emissions and nitrous oxide, mostly from industry and agriculture, contributes 6% to global emissions

Three groups or scopes

Greenhouse gas emissions are categorised into three groups or 'Scopes' by the most widely-used international accounting tool, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol. Scope 1 covers direct emissions from owned or controlled sources. Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating and cooling consumed by the reporting company. Scope 3 includes all other indirect emissions that occur in a company’s value chain.

Scope 1	Scope 2	Scope 3
Fuel combustion Company vehicles Fugitive emissions	Purchased electricity, heat and steam	Purchased goods and services Business travel Employee commuting Waste disposal Use of sold products Transportation and distribution (up- and downstream) Investments Leased assets and franchises

Emissions in Farming

• Mitigatin GHG Emissions in Beef Dairy systems

Documents & External links

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• LSA Calculator
• The Carbon Almanac, by Seth Godin