Carbon Emissions

The Kyoto Protocol establishes legally binding emissions caps for ratifying nations. The first commitment period is 2008 to 2012. The Kyoto Protocol targets the reduction of emissions of six primary greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). For the purposes of compliance under the Kyoto Protocol, these greenhouse gases are measured in carbon dioxide equivalents and are referred to, collectively, as carbon emissions.

For the purposes of compliance under the Kyoto Protocol, these greenhouse gases are measured in carbon dioxide equivalents and are referred to, collectively, as carbon emissions or carbon.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks the major greenhouse gas contributing end-user sectors in the following order: industrial, transportation, residential, commercial and agricultural.[29] Major sources of an individual's greenhouse gas include home heating and cooling, electricity consumption, and transportation. Corresponding conservation measures are improving home building insulation, installing geothermal heat pumps and compact fluorescent lamps, and choosing energy-efficient vehicles.