The three primary greenhouse gases driving climate change and international policy action are carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Together, these gases account for the vast majority of anthropogenic warming, each with distinct sources, atmospheric lifespans, and warming potentials that shape how governments and businesses approach emissions reduction.
Carbon dioxide dominates climate conversations because of its sheer volume. Fossil fuel combustion, industrial processes, and deforestation pump roughly 37 billion tonnes of CO₂ into the atmosphere annually. While it has a lower warming potential per …