greenhouse gas emissions (greenhouse gas emissions)
Also known as: GHG emissions · GHG · carbon emissions · CO2 equivalent
Gases released into the atmosphere that trap heat and contribute to global warming — primarily CO₂, methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). Measured in CO₂-equivalent tonnes; industrial facilities must report and reduce them under Indian and international regulatory frameworks.
Last updated
Beyond definitions
Planning to start a business in any of these sectors?
Get the full business understanding — capex, regulations, machinery, vendor questions, and risk checks before you commit capital.
What is greenhouse gas emissions?
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are the discharge into the atmosphere of gases that absorb and re-emit infrared radiation, trapping heat in the lower atmosphere and warming the Earth's surface. The principal anthropogenic GHGs are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and the fluorinated gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF6, NF3). Each gas has a different Global Warming Potential (GWP) — methane is 28-36 times more potent than CO2 over 100 years, nitrous oxide 273 times more potent — so emissions are normalised to CO2-equivalent (CO2e) tonnes for aggregate reporting.
Indian industrial GHG accounting follows the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard and ISO 14064. Emissions are categorised as:
- Scope 1: direct emissions from owned sources — combustion in boilers, process emissions (methane leaks from digesters), fugitive refrigerants.
- Scope 2: indirect emissions from purchased electricity, calculated using India's grid emission factor (currently 0.71 kg CO2e per kWh, CEA 2023 data).
- Scope 3: indirect emissions in the value chain — feedstock transport, employee commute, end-of-life disposal of products.
For waste processing sectors, GHG accounting cuts both ways. CBG plants, recycling facilities, and pyrolysis operations are net negative emitters when properly designed: a CBG plant typically displaces 2.0-2.5 tonnes CO2e per tonne CBG sold by avoiding fossil CNG combustion, plus 5-15 tonnes CO2e per tonne CBG by diverting feedstock from open dumping (which would emit methane). Plastic and tyre recycling avoid 1.5-2.5 tonnes CO2e per tonne recycled compared to virgin production. These avoidance figures are increasingly monetised under voluntary carbon markets (VCS/Verra, Gold Standard) at 600-2,500 INR per tonne CO2e and India's compliance Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS, launched 2024).
The trade-off in GHG reporting is rigour versus cost: ISO 14064-1 verified reports cost 5-15 lakh INR per year for a mid-size facility but unlock carbon revenue, green-bond financing, and customer ESG mandates. Mandatory BRSR Core (Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting Core) reporting under SEBI now requires top-1,000 listed Indian companies to disclose Scope 1 and 2 emissions annually, and Scope 3 phased in from FY 2026-27.
Common questions about greenhouse gas emissions
Plain-English answers to what people most often ask.
What are greenhouse gas emissions?
Why do CBG plants reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Can Indian recycling businesses earn carbon credits?
Want the full picture, not just the term?
Adhāra Viveka gives you structured clarity on capital-intensive recycling and renewable-energy sectors — before you commit money or engage vendors.