OIA Eco Working Group/Social Responsibility Working Group

The impact category of global climate change refers to the potential change in the earth’s climate caused by the buildup of chemicals (i.e., “greenhouse gases”) that trap heat from the reflected sunlight that would have otherwise passed out of the earth’s atmosphere. (TRACI)

This is generally measued as kg of Carbon dioxide equivilant in which all green house gases ( methane, nitrous oxide) are given a weighting relative to their ability to enhance the green house effect and cause climate change.

This measure is closely tied to the amount and efficiency of energy use in product creation and the use of agricultural products which produce methane.