The birth of carbon accounting

Oil, natural gas and coal were formed by the slow decomposition of layers of vegetable residues, capturing atmospheric carbon over many millions of years. By burning these fuels we release an additional quantity of CO₂ back into the atmosphere, interfering with the natural carbon cycle. The Paris Agreement went to great lengths to avoid binding goals, and compliance with pledged carbon-emission reduction is a voluntary undertaking. The reduction in emissions has been more marked since 2009, principally due to the slowdown in industrial production. Concentrations of Greenhouse gases (GHG) have increased considerably since the Industrial Revolution, thanks largely to methods of organization, production and consumption. Changes in human activities, which contribute to the gas emissions, have significantly impacted the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere. The Kyoto Protocol enables for a GHG emissions market that distinguishes between initial allocations and final allocations.