The greenhouse effect is a natural process that causes some of the Earth’s thermal radiation to stay in the atmosphere longer, increasing the temperature of the Earth [1]. Although the atmosphere is almost 99 % oxygen and nitrogen, which let light and heat through, there are small amounts of gases called greenhouse gases [2]. These include water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide [1]. These gases absorb the heat that initially comes from the sun towards the Earth and then radiates out of the Earth again, like greenhouse walls.
Without the natural greenhouse effect, Earth’s temperature would be about 30 degrees colder than it is today. However, the excessive buildup of human-induced greenhouse gases, mainly from activities like burning fossil fuels, intensifies this effect beyond what is necessary for sustaining life on Earth [1].
The natural greenhouse effect is, therefore, essential for life on Earth, but when human emissions of greenhouse gases amplify it, problems arise. As a result, warming occurs very quickly, leaving ecosystems unable to adapt to a changing climate (3).
As greenhouse gases have different impacts on the climate, their climate impacts are converted into carbon dioxide equivalents to facilitate comparison. That is, how much carbon dioxide would produce an equivalent effect? The lifetime of different greenhouse gases varies, so carbon dioxide equivalents are usually calculated on a 100-year basis [1].
Methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide but breaks down faster in the atmosphere. However, over 100 years, it takes 28 times more carbon dioxide to match the impact of methane on the greenhouse effect. Nitrous oxide is nearly 300 times more effective than carbon dioxide in terms of its warming potential over the same timeframe. Despite this potency, carbon dioxide emissions remain the most significant climate impact of human activities due to their exceptionally high levels [1].
Water vapour accounts for at least 75 % of the natural greenhouse effect. The amount of water vapour in the atmosphere is mainly affected by the temperature of the air and not by human activity. But when carbon dioxide and methane emissions, for example, increase, the temperature rises, and the amount of water vapour increases, further enhancing the greenhouse effect. So indirectly, our emissions affect the warming effect of water vapour [2].
The leading causes of the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and emissions from agriculture [1]. And here, the textile industry is a significant contributor. Total greenhouse gas emissions from textile production are around 1.2 billion tonnes annually. These emissions are more than all international aviation and shipping combined (4). Textiles also represent an unusually long emissions chain, from the raw material itself, such as the cotton plant, to use and washing.
Sources
- Naturskyddsföreningen – How does the greenhouse effect work?
- Naturvårdsverket – The greenhouse effect is enhanced
- Naturskyddsföreningen – What is climate change?
- ReThink – Textiles emit more greenhouse gases
November 2023, RETHINK
