Carbon dioxide has been known as a major greenhouse gas. Methane and freon also contribute to the global warming. Greenhous gas absorbs infrared light of the sunlight reflected on the earth, causing global warming. Methane and freon absorb more infrared light than carbon dioxide in terms of the absorption per molecule. But the concentration of carbon dioxide is higher in the air than those of methane and freon. The emission of methane has been increasing for the recent decades. Methane is chemically less stable than carbon dioxide and can be degraded if the source of methane is specified. The Paris agreement aims to keep the temperature increase to within 1.5C. UN report claims that 45% cut in methane emission would avoid 0.3C warming as early as 2040s. For freon, its production and use were already banned.
The main sources of methane are the fossil fuel industry, agriculture and the waste sector, accounting for 34%, 40% and 20% of total emissions, respectively. According to the UN report, those emissions can be suppressed by the technical improvements. The emission of fossil fuel can be reduced by plugging the leak along the production and transportation lines. Improving the management of rice paddle reduces the emission from agriculture. Disposal of sewage can be improved to reduce the emission from waste. The biggest challenge is how to reduce methane from livestock.
I learned that we can contribute to global warming issue by shifting our diet. Eating less meat we will have better environment as well as healthier life .
