Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are both natural and anthropogenic gases that absorb the infrared radiation from the sun, trapping heat in the atmosphere and warming the Earth’s surface. GHGs keep the average temperature on Earth at +15C. Without GHGs, the Earth would be cold and uninhabitable. Stable levels of GHGs keep the Earth’s temperature relatively constant, but when GHG concentrations increase, more heat is absorbed and the Earth’s temperature rises, triggering climate change.

When fossil fuels are burned, the principal greenhouse gases that are introduced into the atmosphere are:

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 
• Methane (CH4) 
• Nitrous Oxide (N2O) 
• Fluorinated Gases (Chlorofluorocarbons, Hydrofluorocarbons, Perfluorocarbons, and Sulfur Hexafluoride)

It can take years for these gases to leave the atmosphere.

Climate change is a shift in long-term average weather patterns, which can include changes in temperature, wind, and precipitation amounts, in turn affecting ecosystems around the world. With GHGs on the rise in Canada, projections of temperature change for the next century indicate that the planet is likely to warm at a rate that has never been experienced in human history.¹

For more about climate change effects in Canada, visit the website of Natural Resources Canada.

Carbon Footprint of the Transportation Sector

Transportation is the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.² In 2005, the transportation sector produced 173.6 megatonnes of CO2 equivalent, and Natural Resources Canada is predicting the sector to produce 193.7 megatonnes by the year 2010.

As shown in the graph below, every 5 years, with the exception of 1990-1995, the transportation sector has and is projected to increase its GHG emissions by a higher percentage than all sectors combined.³ This creates a challenge for Canada as we strive to meet our commitment to a 20 percent reduction in GHG levels by 2020, over 2006 levels.

Propane’s Relatively Small Carbon Footprint

The carbon footprint of propane is lower than many other fuels, including some renewable fuels, as demonstrated by a recent study by the U.S. Propane Education and Research Council.⁴

The more environmentally-friendly choice, propane-fuelled vehicles can emit up to 27% less GHGs than conventional gasoline vehicles.⁵ A number of studies support similar conclusions with variations due to different assumptions and variables.

In addition to GHG emissions, another factor that impacts the carbon footprint of a fuel is how it behaves in the atmosphere. Although natural gas (also known as methane) generates fewer CO2 emissions per BTU than propane when burned, natural gas is itself a greenhouse gas. One pound of methane released into the atmosphere produces the same effect on climate change as 25 pounds of carbon dioxide!

Propane, on the other hand, is not a greenhouse gas when released. The difference is in how quickly propane, compared to natural gas, can be removed from the air by natural oxidation or precipitation - propane is removed from the atmosphere faster than it takes for it to have an impact on the climate.⁶

Propane is abundant in Canada, with infrastructure already in place, and the ability to quickly and cost-effectively install additional infrastructure as needed to service specific fleets. With the advantage of its low-carbon impact, no other alternative transportation fuel is as ready and able to assist in meeting the challenge of addressing climate change and air quality concerns in Canada.

Success Story:
UPS Canada added 139 cleaner-burning propane delivery trucks in early 2008 to the already 600 propane trucks in the fleet. The 139 new propane trucks are expected to reduce UPS's carbon dioxide emissions by a total of 254 metric tonnes per year, the equivalent weight of 80 UPS trucks. This means a 35 per cent improvement compared to conventional gas engines, and particulate matter emitted from vehicles will be virtually eliminated.⁷

More about propane’s air quality benefits

¹ Source: NR Can Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation http://adaptation.nrcan.gc.ca/101/cc_e.php
² Source: NR Can http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/vehicle-fuels.cfm
³ Source Environment Canada Canada’s Energy & GHG Emissions Projections March 2008 http://www.ec.gc.ca/doc/virage-corner/2008-03/pdf/nat_eng.pdf
⁴ Source: PERC, Propane Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Comparative Analysis 2009
⁵ Source: WLPGA, LP Gas and Climate Change: Targeting the Switch to a Cleaner Fuel 2005, Executive Summary
⁶ Source: PERC, Propane Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Comparative Analysis 2007 
⁷ Source: UPS Press Releases, http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/about/news/press_releases/03032008.html

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