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Greenhouse Gases
Learn about key air pollutants causing global climate change, and their emissions inventories.
Regional Greenhouse Gases Inventory
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated compounds (such as hydrofluorocarbons - HFCs, perfluorocarbons - PFCs, chlorofluorocarbons - CFCs, hydrochlorofluorocarbons - HCFCs, and sulfur hexafluoride - SF6) are climate-forcing pollutants that contribute to global climate change.
The Air District maintains a Bay Area Regional GHG Inventory that estimates and categorizes anthropogenic emissions across six economic sectors, that are generally consistent with the statewide GHG inventory maintained by the California Air Resources Board:
- Transportation
- Industrial
- Electricity Generation
- Commercial and Residential
- Waste Management
- Agriculture
The Air District periodically updates the inventory using the latest data and methodologies. The current inventory uses 2022 as the base year for forecasting and backcasting emissions from 1990 through 2050. This comprehensive inventory update incorporates the latest emissions factors, activity data, control measures, and forecasting techniques consistent with methodologies used by the California Air Resources Board.
Detailed documentation describing the inventory methodologies, assumptions, and emission estimates are provided below. The accompanying GHG Emissions Lookup Tool provides an interactive way to explore emissions by county, sector, year, and pollutant.
GHG Emissions Inventory Reports and Targeted Studies
The following table provides access to current and historical GHG emissions inventory reports including detailed descriptions of the methodologies used to estimate emissions for each sector and category.
The Air District has also sponsored targeted studies to improve understanding of emission sources, refine estimation methodologies, and enhance the overall quality of the regional GHG inventory. These studies are also listed below.
Last Updated: 8/25/2026