“We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.” – Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732
Introduction
Buddha taught that moderation leads to wisdom, peace, and freedom.
It’s not about giving up everything or having everything; it’s about choosing the right amount with awareness and purpose. He discovered that neither extreme luxury nor extreme hardship leads to true happiness or enlightenment. After years of strict asceticism and an earlier life as a prince, he realised the value of balance and taught:
“Avoid the two extremes… the Middle Path leads to vision, to knowledge, to calm, to awakening, to Nirvana.”
Content: 7 Greenhouse Gases
- What is the meaning of Greenhouse Gases?
- What is the purpose of these gases?
- What are the different types of Greenhouse gases?
- What is the problem?
- How do they impact?
- Conclusion
Read More: https://bit.ly/C2CC2G (Cradle to Cradle and Cradle to Grave)
Read More: https://bit.ly/Scope123GHG (What is Scope 1, 2 and 3)
Objective
Imagine Earth wrapped in a gentle, invisible blanket that keeps it warm enough for life to thrive. This blanket is made up of greenhouse gases—natural components of our atmosphere that trap heat from the sun and maintain a stable climate.
But over time, human activities have added too much to this blanket, making it dangerously thick. As a result, our planet is heating up, weather patterns are changing, and nature is being pushed out of balance.
Once you go through the article, you will understand the meaning of Greenhouse Gases, types of Greenhouse Gases, the Problems with too much, its impact and the conclusion.
Read More: https://bit.ly/LinearCircularEconomy (Difference Between Linear and Circular Economy)
Read More: https://bit.ly/GHGProtacol (GHG Protocol)
Definition: ISO 59004: 2024
Circular Economy (Cl 3.1.1): Economic system that uses a systematic approach to maintain a circular flow of resources by recovering, retaining or adding to their value while contributing to sustainable development.
Sustainable Development (Cl 3.1.11): Development that meets the environmental, social economic needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Life Cycle (Cl 3.2.4): Consecutive and interlinked stages in the life of a solution.
Linear Economy (Cl 3.5.10): Economic system where resources typically follow the pattern of extraction, production, use and disposal.
End of Life (Cl 3.5.30): <Product> point in time when a product is taken out of use and its resources are either recovered for processing or disposed of.
Life Cycle Assessment (Cl 3.6.8): Compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs and potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle.
Read More: https://bit.ly/ReduceRecyleReuse (3R)
Detailed Information
During the day, the sun shines through the atmosphere, warming the Earth’s surface. At night, the Earth’s surface cools, releasing heat back into the air. But some of the heat is trapped by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. That’s what keeps the Earth’s temperature at an average of 14˚C (57˚F).
The gases act like the glass walls of a greenhouse, hence the name “greenhouse gases.” Without this greenhouse effect, temperatures would drop to as low as -18˚C (-0.4˚F), too cold to sustain life on Earth.
Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have been releasing larger quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. It’s like sugar in tea — a little sweetens it, but too much ruins the taste.
Nations and enterprises that have committed to the Paris Agreement (COP 21 at Paris, 196 parties, 12 Dec 2015, global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius) are obligated to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. To do so, they are required to track, disclose, and mitigate their emissions by adhering to established criteria like those outlined in the GHG Protocol.
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with a global average surface temperature of 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels. This means we’ve likely just experienced the first calendar year where the global mean temperature exceeded 1.5°C.
Read More: https://bit.ly/GreenWashiing (Green Washing)
What is the Meaning of Greenhouse Gases?
Greenhouse gases are gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat from the sun and help keep the planet warm.
Example: Think of Earth as sitting under a glass greenhouse. Sunlight comes in, warms the Earth, and then some of the heat tries to go back into space.
But greenhouse gases act like the glass — they let sunlight in but trap some of the heat, keeping the Earth warm.
Too little, and we freeze. Too much, and we overheat.
Read more: https://bit.ly/WhatESG (What is ESG?)
What is the Purpose of Greenhouse Gases?
The main purpose of greenhouse gases is to keep the Earth warm enough to support life.
- Trap Heat:
- Greenhouse gases absorb heat from the sun and hold some of it in the atmosphere, like a blanket.
- Without them, most of the sun’s heat would bounce back into space, and the Earth would be too cold to live on.
- Maintain Earth’s Temperature:
- They help maintain an average global temperature of about 15°C (59°F).
- Without greenhouse gases, Earth’s temperature would drop to around -18°C (0°F) — too cold for humans, animals, and plants to survive.
- Support Climate Balance:
- These gases help in regulating the climate by balancing the heat energy coming in from the sun and going out into space.
Read More: https://bit.ly/ClimateChnages
What are the 7 Different Types of Greenhouse Gases?
These 7 greenhouse gases all trap heat, but some are far more powerful than others. Managing them is key to fighting climate change.
| No. | Greenhouse Gas | Main Source | Global Warming Potential (GWP)* |
| 1 | Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) | Fossil fuels, deforestation | 1 (reference point) |
| 2 | Methane (CH₄) | Agriculture, landfills, and Gas Leaks | ~25 |
| 3 | Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) | Fertilisers, burning Fossil Fuels | ~300 |
| 4 | Water Vapour (H₂O) | Natural Evaporation | Variable (feedback effect) |
| 5 | Ozone (O₃) | Pollution, Sunlight Reactions | Moderate |
| 6 | Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) | Cooling systems (man-made like Refrigerants, air conditioning, aerosol propellants) | 124 – 12,500 |
| 7 | PFCs (Perfluorocarbons) & SF₆ (Sulfur Hexafluoride) | PFC: Industrial activities like Aluminium production, semiconductor manufacturing
SF6: Electrical insulation, circuit breakers, magnesium processing |
Extremely high
PFC: 6500 – 11,100 SF6: up to 23,500 |
*GWP = How much heat a gas traps compared to CO₂ over 100 years
Read More: https://bit.ly/LifeCycleAssesment (Life Cycle Assessment)
What is the Problem?
The “thickness” of Earth’s heat-trapping blanket can be measured by the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere, expressed in parts per million (ppm).
Earth’s greenhouse gas “blanket” has gotten about 50% thicker in CO₂ concentration, from 280 ppm to over 420 ppm, mainly due to human activities. This thicker blanket traps more heat and is the main driver of today’s climate change.
Because of pollution from cars, factories, burning coal and oil, we’re adding too many of these gases. So, the Earth’s blanket is getting thicker, trapping too much heat, and that’s causing global warming and climate change, which include melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and extreme weather.
| Year | CO₂ Level (ppm) | Description |
| ~1750 | ~280 ppm | Pre-industrial (natural balance) |
| 1958 | ~315 ppm | First modern measurement (Mauna Loa) |
| 2000 | ~370 ppm | Rapid rise begins |
| 2020 | ~414 ppm | Accelerated warming observed |
| 2025 | ~420+ ppm | Current — thickest “blanket” ever |
Read More: https://bit.ly/CircularEconomyPrinciples
How Do These 7 Greenhouse Gases Impact the Environment?
Each greenhouse gas affects the environment by trapping heat in the atmosphere, but their sources, strengths, and effects vary.
| Gas | Heat-Trapping Power* | Lifespan in the Atmosphere | Key Environmental Effects |
| CO₂ | 1 (base level) | Hundreds of years | Global warming, ocean acidification |
| CH₄ | ~25 | ~12 years | Rapid warming, air pollution |
| N₂O | ~300 | ~114 years | Ozone depletion, strong warming |
| H₂O | Varies (feedback) | Short (self-regulated) | Intensifies warming and storms |
| O₃ | Moderate (low-level) | Hours to weeks | Smog, respiratory issues |
| HFCs | 100s–1000s | 15–29 years | Strong heat trapping |
| PFCs/SF₆ | 1000s–23,500+ | Thousands of years | Long-term climate damage |
* Compared to CO₂ over 100 years (Global Warming Potential: GWP)
These 7 greenhouse gases warm the Earth at different speeds and strengths.
Some act quickly (like methane), others stay for centuries (like CO₂, SF₆). Together, they drive climate change, harm nature, and affect our daily lives. Reducing their levels is essential to protect the planet.
Read More: https://bit.ly/BRSRblog (What is BRSR)
Read More: https://bit.ly/SDGCircularity
Read More: https://bit.ly/17SDGGoals (What are the 17 SDG Goals?)
Conclusion:
Greenhouse gases are essential for life on Earth because they trap heat and keep the planet warm. However, due to human activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial emissions, their levels have risen sharply, making Earth’s heat-trapping blanket thicker.
This increase is causing global warming, climate change, and extreme weather events. To protect our environment and future generations, we must reduce greenhouse gas emissions and restore the natural balance of our atmosphere.
In short, Greenhouse gases are necessary, but too much of them is dangerous.
Read More: https://bit.ly/3PillersSustainability
Read More: https://bit.ly/ISO59000Series
References:
ISO 14064
GHG Protocol
Industry Experts
This is the 234th article of this Quality Management series. Every weekend, you will find useful information that will make your Management System journey Productive. Please share it with your colleagues too.
In the words of Albert Einstein, “The important thing is never to stop questioning.” I invite you to ask anything about the above subject. Questions and answers are the lifeblood of learning, and we are all learning. I will answer all questions to the best of my ability and promise to keep personal information confidential.
Your genuine feedback and response are extremely valuable. Please suggest topics for the coming weeks.
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