Emissions and Energy Efficiency Management

Methane (CH₄) is a colorless, odorless gas that exists both naturally in the atmosphere and as a byproduct of human activities. Methane is emitted during the production of coal, natural gas, and oil but also as a byproduct of livestock and other agriculture. It is also emitted as organic waste decays, in facilities such as municipal solid waste landfills and wastewater treatment plants.

CO₂ emissions occur in a variety of ways. It can originate from burning or combusting fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil or chemical reactions from biological materials like trees. While CO₂ makes up about 75% of the anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions methane makes up about 17%. 

Although methane emissions are much lower than carbon dioxide, methane is about 25 times more capable of trapping heat than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. In a shorter timeline (about 20 years) methane can trap about 80 times as much heat as CO₂. Methane is much less abundant in the atmosphere and lasts for a significantly smaller amount of time—decades vs. centuries—compared to CO₂. However, methane traps more heat and is more harmful than CO2.

Tackling methane emission sources can have a dramatic effect on the overall concentration of methane present in the atmosphere, and subsequently reduce its warming effects and present short-term gains in the world’s fight against climate change.