International Climate Change Policies
Market-Based Programs to Limit Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Greenhouse gases — including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and synthetic chemicals such as fluorinated gases — trap heat in the atmosphere and prevent it from returning to space. The heat-trapping effect, known as the greenhouse effect, moderates atmospheric and surface temperatures, keeping the Earth warm enough to support life and varies depending on the gas. Each unit of the non-carbon-dioxide gas generally has a greater warming effect than each unit of carbon dioxide, although carbon dioxide is the most prevalent anthropogenic greenhouse gas and has the greatest overall effect on warming. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change…
