Greenhouse gas refers to various gases, particularly carbon dioxide, that contribute to the greenhouse effect.
Greenhouses gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons (cfc's), ozone and water vapour. Greenhouse gases are required to help maintain the temperature of the Earth and without which we would likely perish. Activities such as burning of fossil fuels has increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which is causing the warming of the planet - global warming - and all that goes with it such as chaotic weather patterns and rising sea levels.
Greenhouse gas emissions are on the rise abd are arguably the greatest challenge the world as a whole now faces. Climax talks in December 2008 at Copenhagen aim to reach a broad agreement to combat greenhouse gases and bring the global levels back down. Watch this space.
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