Greenhouse gases are gases in the Earths atmosphere that trap heat and warm the planet by absorbing the wavelengths of radiation that the Earth emits. They are transparent to incoming (short-wave) radiation from the sun but block infrared (long-wave) radiation from leaving the Earths atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect that results in global warming and climate change. The most abundant greenhouse gas is water vapor, but other important greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and synthetic fluorinated gases.

Here is a list of the most significant greenhouse gases that cause global warming via the greenhouse effect:

• Carbon dioxide (CO2)
• Methane (CH4)
• Nitrous oxide (N2O)
• Fluorinated gases: Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)

Greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. The release of greenhouse gases associated with human activities and climate change is referred to as greenhouse gas emissions or climate pollution. The increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere amplifies the planets natural greenhouse effect and contributes to global warming.