This post is by Lisa Moore, Ph.D., a scientist in the Climate and Air program at Environmental Defense.
In a comment on my Global Warming Crib Sheet, johnmashey asked if I could say something about the lifetimes of greenhouse gases – that is, how long different greenhouse gases stay in the atmosphere. Great idea! Here’s a whole post on it.
Many people don’t realize that the greenhouse gases we emit can stay in the atmosphere for decades, centuries or even millennia. That’s why it’s so important that we cap emissions as soon as possible.
Here’s a table showing a selection of greenhouse gases, their global warming potential (GWP), and their lifetimes: