The Forum > General Discussion > What is the world's single most potent source of greenhouse gases?
What is the world's single most potent source of greenhouse gases?
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The gas is not CO2 but nitrous oxide and other nitrates.
Molecule for molecule nitrous oxide (N2O) is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. N2O emissions from nitrate fertiliser contribute more to global warming than all the world's fossil fuel burning cars, trucks, trains and planes put together.
FIX THIS IN YOUR MINDS.
Do away with all the world's fossil fuel burning vehicles; ground all the passenger planes and within a few years we'd be back where we started because of the growing volume of N2O and other nitrate emissions. We have to tackle the nitrogen problem.
It is even arguable that nitrates are bigger problem than CO2 and we should be focusing on that first.* There are other health effects from nitrate pollution.
But let's focus on the global warming aspect for now.
A possible fix is genetically modified crops that require less nitrate fertiliser.**
So here's the question to greenies.
What about GM crops that requires less nitrate fertiliser and are more drought resistant to boot. (Less need for dams, less dry land salination)?
Would greenies accepted GM crops that genuinely helped the environment?
My guess is no. In fact you'd never get them to admit that GM crops could benefit the environment.
But let's hear from you.
*See: Something nasty in the air, New Scientist, 21 January 2006; and
**Could new GM crops please the greens?, New Scientist, 05 January 2008