greenhouse gas

noun

: any of various gaseous compounds (such as carbon dioxide or methane) that absorb infrared radiation, trap heat in the atmosphere, and contribute to the greenhouse effect

Water vapor is an important gas for the study of climate and weather because of its role as a natural greenhouse gas as well as its relationship to clouds and precipitation.

—Mohi Kumar

Scientists now recognize tropospheric ozone—a component of smog—as a greenhouse gas as well as an eye and lung irritant.

—Science News

While it may not be possible to eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions, it is possible to offset some of the emissions that do still occur. Offsetting involves supporting projects that reduce or sequester greenhouse gas emissions in another location.

—Tyson Miller

Livestock emit 14.5 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions each year. Most of that is from cows.

—Marley Walker

Examples of greenhouse gas in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The steel industry now accounts for 0.1% of the British economy and 2.4% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to research by the House of Commons Library. 📬 Sign up for the Daily Brief Our free, fast, and fun briefing on the global economy, delivered every weekday morning. —Pan Pylas, Quartz, 11 Apr. 2024

However, there is compelling evidence that modern warming is driven by an increase in the concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases due to human activity – specifically industrial pollution. —USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024

Cleaning Up Their Act: The organizers of the Paris Olympics promise to slash greenhouse gas emissions by re-using historic buildings, adding bike lanes and even putting solar panels on the Seine. —Victor Mather, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024

The Pinole City Council last week unanimously approved a temporary moratorium on new fuel stations that also limits expansion of existing ones as part of an effort to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions to at least 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. —Sierra Lopez, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024

The ruling said Switzerland has failed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions fast enough to meet its own targets. —Ellen Francis, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024

In an email to the Statesman, Public Works spokesperson Melissa Stoner said the city used the EPA’s Waste Reduction Model, which takes into account factors like transportation of waste, to determine the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from composting. —Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 9 Apr. 2024

Swiss authorities violated the Convention, the court says in its judgment, by failing to adequately limit greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels that are causing climate change. —Justine Calma, The Verge, 9 Apr. 2024

Weather patterns are changing, natural disasters are becoming more extreme, and greenhouse gas emissions are at an all-time high. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

greenhouse gas

noun

: any of various gases (as carbon dioxide or methane) that absorb infrared radiation, trap heat in the atmosphere, and contribute to the greenhouse effect