Global Mitigation of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases

Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases: International Emissions and Projections

Although the majority of greenhouse gas emissions are carbon dioxide, non-CO2 greenhouse gases such as methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated greenhouse gases contribute significantly to climate change. These greenhouse gases have more significant climate change effects than carbon dioxide on a per-ton basis, and many have greater short term impacts than CO2. EPA uses future emissions projections of non-CO2 greenhouse gases as a basis for understanding how future policy and short-term, cost-effective mitigation options can affect these emissions.

EPA has published a series of reports, described below, that project non-CO2 emissions globally. For more information on mitigation of non-CO2 greenhouse gases, visit the International Non-CO2 Mitigation page. For questions or comments on these reports, visit our Contact Us page.

Global Non-CO2 GHG Emissions: 1990-2030

EPA has released global non-CO2 emissions projections. These projections revise the draft results released in August 2011. The report provides estimated projections to 2030 for emissions from more than twenty emissions sources. The gases included in this report are methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated greenhouse gases (hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride).

Global non-CO2 emissions are projected to increase significantly between 2005 and 2030 unless further actions are taken to reduce emissions. Between 1990 and 2005, methane recovery and other mitigation efforts have decreased the rate of growth, but total emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases have nonetheless increased. Economic and production growth will continue to drive emissions increases in the future unless additional mitigation actions are adopted.

Download report below.

Download Data Annexes(WinZip format containing Excel Spreadsheet files, 3MB)

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