Greenhouse+Gases


 * Greenhouse Gases**

Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have put a large amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels, cutting down forests and other activities. Greenhouse gases absorb and emit heat; so increasing their concentrations in the atmosphere will have a warming effect. The rate and amount of temperature increase is not known with absolute certainty. This is why there is still much speculation about global warming in the scientific and political world.


 * Carbon dioxide (CO2)**

Concentrations in the atmosphere increased from approximately 280 parts per million (ppm) in pre-industrial times to 382 ppm in 2006 according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Earth Systems Research Laboratory, a 36 percent increase. Almost all of the increase is due to human activities. Present CO2 concentrations are higher than any time in at least the last 650,000 years.


 * Methane (CH4)[[image:http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/images/atmosph_conc_co2-lg.gif]]**

Methane concentrations increased sharply during most of the 20th century and are now 148% above pre-industrial levels. In recent decades, the rate of increase has slowed considerably.



For about 11,500 years before the industrial period, the concentration of N2O varied only slightly. It increased relatively rapidly toward the end of the 20th century.
 * Nitrous oxide (N2O)**

Many leaders are already taking actions to prevent further climate changes due to Global Warming. Below are a few examples:

In 2006, the Legislature passed and Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which set the 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal into law.It directed the California Air Resources Board (ARB or Board) to begin developing discrete early actions to reduce greenhouse gases while also preparing a scoping plan to identify how best to reach the 2020 limit.The reduction measures to meet the 2020 target are to be adopted by the start of 2011.
 * Assembly Bill 32: Global Warming Solutions Act **

On December 30, 2009, governors of 11 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states signed a Memorandum of Understanding committing their states to participate in a regional effort to develop a regional Low Carbon Fuel Standard. A LCFS program is a market-based program to address the carbon content of fuels. If adopted by states, it would apply to the transportation sector, and could potentially apply to fuels used for heating buildings. The Memorandum establishes a process to develop a regional framework by 2011 and examine the economic impacts of a LCFS program. The governors of New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont signed the Memorandum.
 * New Jersey Signs on to Regional Low-Carbon Fuel Pact**

New Jersey is a participant in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cooperative effort by ten Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. The first of its kind in U.S. history, this unique program relies on a market-based cap-and-trade approach to curb emissions while at the same time promoting energy efficiency. States that participate in RGGI sell emission allowances through auctions and invest the proceeds in consumer benefit projects that include energy efficiency, renewable energy and programs that provide assistance to low-income taxpayers. Since joining RGGI, New Jersey has taken part in three allowance auctions, which have generated $ 47.3 million in proceeds for clean energy and utility assistance programs. The methods for allocating the proceeds from these auctions are set forth in the Global Warming Solution Fund Law signed by Governor Corzine in January 2008.
 * New Funding Programs to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Promote Economic Growth**