The industrialized countries Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America [40 countries and separately the European Union].

Developed countries that pay for costs of developing countries, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America [23 countries and separately the European Union; Turkey was removed from the Annex 2 list in 2001 at its request to recognize its economy as a transition economy].

The most common greenhouse gas, created when fossil fuels such as gasoline, methane, and propane, which contain mostly carbon, are burned and react with oxygen. Carbon dioxide lets solar energy in, but absorbs infrared radiation reflected by Earth back into the atmosphere and then reflects it back, contributing to global warming.

Concentration of greenhouse gases in Earth`s atmosphere that mimics the glass panes of a greenhouse, which are used absorb and trap heat. Earth is warmed by shorter-wavelength radiation from the sun passing through Earth`s atmosphere  to be absorbed by its surface. Some absorbed energy is then radiated back to the atmosphere as long-wave infrared radiation and  some is transmitted into space. In the ''greenhouse effect,'' however, greenhouse gases re-emit some of the infrared waves downward, causing Earth`s lower atmosphere to warm. The greater the amount of greenhouse gases, the more the planet heats up.

are fluorocarbons emitted as a by-product of industrial manufacturing. They have no known effects on the ozone layer but are up to 12,500 times more potent as carbon dioxide in global warming.

was established to provide decision makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. The IPCC conducts no research, nor does it monitor climate-related data or parameters. Its role is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open, and transparent basis the latest scientific, technical, and socioeconomic literature produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change, its observed and projected impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.

is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997, it is intended to achieve 'stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.'

greenhouse gas that derives from both nature (ocean, soil, termites, wetlands) and human activities (landfills, ruminants, waste treatment, burning of biomass).

A greenhouse gas emitted by bacteria in soils and oceans and by human activities in agriculture (cultivating soil, use of nitrogen fertilizers, and animal waste, industrial production of nylon, internal combustion engines).

and their derivatives are extremely potent greenhouse gases, and with 50,000 year-lifetime constitute a long-term problem. The most abundant PFC is tetrafluoromethane, with a greenhouse warming potential 6,500 times that of carbon dioxide; it is caused mainly by electrolysis of alumina to aluminu.

is the most potent greenhouse gas evaluated by the IPCC with a global warming potential of 22,200 times that of CO₂ when compared over a 100 year period. However, because of its high density relative to air, SF6 flows to the bottom of the atmosphere which limits its ability to contribute to global warming.

is an international environmental treaty produced at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3-14 June 1992. It entered into force on 21 March 1994, and sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. It recognizes that the climate system is a shared resource whose stability can be affected by industrial and other emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The Convention enjoys near universal membership, with 192 countries having ratified. Under the Convention, governments 1) gather and share information on greenhouse gas emissions, national policies and best practices; 2) launch national strategies for addressing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to expected impacts, including the provision of financial and technological support to developing countries; 3) cooperate in preparing for adaptation to the impacts of climate change.

More recently, a number of nations approved an addition to the treaty: the Kyoto Protocol, which has more powerful (and legally binding) measures.

is an international environmental treaty produced at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3-14 June 1992. It entered into force on 21 March 1994, and sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. It recognizes that the climate system is a shared resource whose stability can be affected by industrial and other emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The Convention enjoys near universal membership, with 192 countries having ratified. Under the Convention, governments 1) gather and share information on greenhouse gas emissions, national policies and best practices; 2) launch national strategies for addressing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to expected impacts, including the provision of financial and technological support to developing countries; 3) cooperate in preparing for adaptation to the impacts of climate change.

More recently, a number of nations approved an addition to the treaty: the Kyoto Protocol, which has more powerful (and legally binding) measures.

are major indoor and outdoor air pollutants. They are often divided into the separate categories of methane (CH₄) and non-methane (NMVOCs). Methane and other hydrocarbon VOCs are significant greenhouse gases via their role in creating ozone and prolonging the life of methane in the atmosphere. Within the NMVOCs, the aromatic compounds benzene, toluene and xylene are a hazard to health. Some VOCs also react with nitrogen oxides in the air in the presence of sunlight to form ozone, posing a health threat in the lower atmosphere by causing respiratory problems.

are major indoor and outdoor air pollutants. They are often divided into the separate categories of methane (CH₄) and non-methane (NMVOCs). Methane and other hydrocarbon VOCs are significant greenhouse gases via their role in creating ozone and prolonging the life of methane in the atmosphere. Within the NMVOCs, the aromatic compounds benzene, toluene and xylene are a hazard to health. Some VOCs also react with nitrogen oxides in the air in the presence of sunlight to form ozone, posing a health threat in the lower atmosphere by causing respiratory problems.