1996 total US Greenhouse Gas emissions from human activity
CO2: 82.3%
Methane: 10.0%
Nitrous oxide: 5.8%
Hydroflourocarbons and others: 1.9%
• Carbon dioxide is the major greenhouse gas.
• While methane is only 10.0% of the pie, it is actually a more potent
greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
• CO2 arises from burning of fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal) and by cutting and
burning forests.
• Methane arises from landfills (65% of total methane production), livestock
(cattle, camels, etc…), fossil fuel combustion, rice cultivation, termites .