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Carbon dioxide is the main contributor responsible for 80% of emissions from industrialised countries. The gas is released into the atmosphere primarily from burning fossil fuels: oil, petrol and natural gas. A growing population coupled with increasing demands on transport and energy, has led to emissions increasing at dramatic rates.
Other greenhouse gases which arise from a range of industrial and agricultural sources are:
- Methane
- Nitrous oxide
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
- Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)
Combined, these greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation in the atmosphere and thus change the dynamic balance between energy arriving from the sun and energy escaping.
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