Global Other Indicators
Climate Change Indicators
Earth’s climate system is driven by a continuous flow of energy from the sun. This energy reaches the earth primarily in the form of visible light. About 30% of the incoming solar radiation is reflected back into space, while the remaining 70% passes through the atmosphere and warms the earth’s surface. The earth, in turn, releases this energy back into space as infra-red radiation
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) play a critical role in regulating this energy balance by absorbing a portion of the outgoing infra-red radiation. Acting like a thermal blanket, these gases keep the earth’s surface around 20°C warmer than it would be if the atmosphere consisted only of oxygen and nitrogen
The concept of the greenhouse effect was first scientifically articulated in the mid-19th century, when Svante Arrhenius demonstrated that gases such as carbon dioxide have a higher capacity to absorb infra-red radiation than the major constituents of the atmosphere. He concluded that increasing concentrations of such gases would lead to a warming of the earth’s surface. In contemporary discourse, this phenomenon is commonly referred to as global warming
Since pre-industrial times, atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased significantly. As this thickening “blanket” reduces the loss of energy to space, the climate system must adjust to restore balance between incoming and outgoing energy. An increase in average global temperatures is one of the primary mechanisms through which this adjustment occurs
This section presents global and country-wise trends in emissions of the six major greenhouse gases, providing a comparative view of their evolution over time
GHG Emissions
GHG Emissions excluding LULUCF CO2eGHG Emissions including LULUCF CO2e
GHG Emissions per capita CO2e
CO2 Emissions
CO2 Emissions excl LULUCF : kg per CapitaCO2 Emissions excl LULUCF (million tons)
CO2 Emissions fm Agriculture
CO2 Emissions fm Building
CO2 Emissions Fugitive
CO2 Emissions Industrial Combustion
CO2 Emissions Industrial Processes
CO2 Emissions Power Industry
CO2 Emissions Transport
CH4 Emissions
CH4 Emissions excl LULUCF CO2eCH4 Emissions Agriculture CO2e
CH4 Emissions Building CO2e
CH4 Emissions Fugitive CO2e
CH4 Emissions Ind Combustion CO2e
CH4 Emissions Ind Processes CO2e
CH4 Emissions Power CO2e
CH4 Emissions Transport CO2e
N2O Emissions
N2O Emissions excl LULUCF CO2eN2O Emissions Agriculture CO2e
N2O Emissions Building CO2e
N2O Emissions Fugitive CO2e
N2O Emissions Ind Combustion CO2e
N2O Emissions Ind Processes CO2e
N2O Emissions Power CO2e
N2O Emissions Transport CO2e
N2O Emissions Waste CO2e
Fluorinated Gases (F-gases) Emissions
F Gases Emissions from Industrial ProcessesForecasts
CO2 Emissions ForecastsLow Carbon H2 Balance