Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases Project Descriptions Intelligent Bioreactor Management Information System (IBM-IS) For Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Carbon Sequestration Landfill Gas Sequestration in Kansas Upgrading Methane Streams with Ultra-Fast Thermal Swing Adsorption Capture and Use of Coal Mine Ventilation Air Methane Reference Shelf

Non-CO₂ emissions from human activities contribute 20 percent
of the anthropogenic greenhouse effect.  Since many non-CO₂ greenhouse gases have significant economic value, emissions
can often be captured or avoided at low net cost. 

The program focuses on areas where non-CO₂ GHG abatement
is integrated with energy production, conversion, and use.  The program also works with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Methane and Sequestration Program to assess the role of non-CO₂ GHG emissions abatement actions in a nationwide strategy for reducing GHG emissions intensity, and to identify priority areas
for research and development. 

Scientists measure the global warming potential (GWP) of greenhouse gases based on the ability of each greenhouse gas
to absorb infrared heat radiation from the earth and hold it in the atmosphere. The GWP of CO₂ is 1, methane 23, nitrous oxide 296, sulfur hexafluorides (SF₆ ) 22,200, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) between 120 and 1,200.  This means, for example, that methane is 23 times more effective at absorbing infrared radiation than carbon dioxide, and one unit of methane would have 23 units of carbon dioxide equivalent.  The table below shows major greenhouse gases and their carbon dioxide equivalent concentrations, as well as the percent change in atmospheric carbon dioxide equivalent from 1990–2005.

Source: The U.S. Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks