![\"\"](\"https:\/\/editor.mediahack.co.za\/theoutlier\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/07\/World-top-emitters-2-600x602.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/editor.mediahack.co.za\/theoutlier\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/07\/African-emmissions-1-600x599.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhy do greenhouse gas emissions matter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Greenhouse gases, of which carbon dioxide is just one, trap heat in the atmosphere, causing temperatures on the Earth\u2019s surface to increase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What happens when temperatures increase? Extreme weather events, such as flooding, droughts, wildfires and hurricanes, increase in frequency and intensity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How much have temperatures increased?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scientists use global average temperatures recorded between 1850 and 1900 \u2013 known as pre-industrial levels \u2013 as a baseline to measure how much temperatures have increased. Global average temperatures inched over 1\u00b0C above pre-industrial levels around 2017<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scientists have set a target to limit temperature increases to 1.5\u00b0C above pre-industrial levels<\/a>. But in many regions average temperatures have already exceeded that target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2015, at a climate change conference in Paris, countries agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions<\/a> with a view to keeping the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2\u00b0C and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5\u00b0C above pre-industrial levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emissions are often measured in carbon dioxide equivalent (<\/a>CO2e)<\/a>. Some gases, like methane, are more effective at warming than CO2, so scientists use their global warming potential<\/a> to convert emissions of these gases into their CO2 equivalents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The large human-caused increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has caused the majority of global warming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three main greenhouse gases are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carbon dioxide<\/strong> (CO2), arises from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and cement production. It stays in the atmosphere for up to 1,000 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Methane<\/strong> (CH4) arises from fossil fuel production, agriculture and landfill sites. It stays in the atmosphere for about 12 years and is 25 times more potent<\/a> than CO2 in causing global warming<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nitrous oxide<\/strong> (NO), arises from fertilizer application, fossil fuel combustion, biomass burning and industrial processes. It stays in the atmosphere for about 120 years and is 260 times more potent than CO2<\/a> in causing global warming<\/p>\n\n\n\n The burning of fossil fuels is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fossil fuels are burned to produce energy, to generate heat and electricity and to power the engines of vehicles, ships and planes. Seventy-three percent<\/a> of greenhouse gas emissions come from fossil fuels burned to produce energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Countries that signed the Paris Agreement in 2015 set targets for reducing their national emissions, which are contained in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that are meant to be updated every five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/editor.mediahack.co.za\/theoutlier\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/07\/SA-average-annual-temperatures-1-600x600.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow are greenhouse gas emissions measured?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Which sectors are the biggest emitters of GHGs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/editor.mediahack.co.za\/theoutlier\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/07\/Emissions-by-sector-1-600x600.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhat are countries doing to reduce their emissions?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n