These include gases that cause global warming, noise and vibration, light glare, soil conservation, farm animals, petroleum products and burning. Air Emissions Certain gases in our environment act like a greenhouse, trapping the sun's heat, which then heat our atmosphere and cause global warming. This process is known as the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide and other gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect are increasing in concentration due to discharges caused by human activities. The federal government has committed Canada to stabilizing gas emissions that cause the greenhouse effect at 1990 levels by the year 2000.
Agriculture helps by absorbing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
Agriculture does contribute to greenhouse gas accumulation by the production of methane, nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide. The agriculture industry must be aware of the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and be willing to do its part. The provincial government's clean air strategy may involve initiatives for agriculture that are not addressed in these guidelines. At present it is not clear what effect agriculture has on the greenhouse effect. Research on agriculture's emission sources and potential activities for remediation will help to identify agriculture's role.