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 largest-ever climate meeting will happen on what’s likely to end up as the hottest year on record and as extreme weather events made worse by greenhouse gas emissions warming the planet wreak havoc on every continent. —Laura Millan, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2023

Globally, the corporate sector accounts for almost 70% of greenhouse gas emissions, and a real impact on emission reductions will only be possible with a global effort to push these businesses in the right direction. —Sumant Sinha, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023

Critics, however, note that greenhouse gas emissions in the Earth’s atmosphere have continued to soar since 1995, when these meetings began. —Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023

The analyst notes the company’s commitment to achieve ‘net zero’ greenhouse gas emissions by 2042. —WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023

Back in 2018, United Nations climate experts published a roadmap for meeting the goals of the Paris agreement that included reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the middle of the century. —Justine Calma, The Verge, 20 Nov. 2023

Future sea-level rise mainly depends on future ice melt, which depends on future greenhouse gas emissions. —E&e News, Scientific American, 20 Nov. 2023

Expanding access to renewable energy, for example, could both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also improve climate resilience. —Li Cohen, CBS News, 15 Nov. 2023

One way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is through molecular recycling, which breaks down hard-to-recycle plastic waste for new products. —John Kell, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2023

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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