Methane (CH₄)
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential approximately 28 times that of CO₂ over 100 years, emitted from agriculture, fossil fuel extraction, landfill decomposition, and other sources.
What is Methane (CH₄)?
Methane (CH₄) is the second most significant greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, responsible for approximately 30% of the global warming since pre-industrial times. It is a short-lived climate pollutant with an atmospheric lifetime of around 12 years, but its heat-trapping capacity is approximately 28 times greater than CO₂ over a 100-year period (GWP100) and approximately 80 times greater over 20 years (GWP20).
Major sources of methane emissions include agriculture (livestock enteric fermentation and manure management), fossil fuel production and distribution (natural gas leaks, coal mining), waste management (landfill decomposition), and wetlands. In the UK, agriculture and waste together account for the majority of methane emissions.
The Global Methane Pledge, launched at COP26 in Glasgow, commits over 150 countries to collectively reduce methane emissions by at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030. Reducing methane is seen as one of the fastest ways to slow near-term warming due to methane’s short atmospheric lifetime.
Practical Examples
A waste management company installs landfill gas capture systems, reducing methane emissions by 60% and generating renewable electricity from the captured biogas.
A dairy company reports its cattle’s enteric fermentation methane as Scope 1 emissions, converting to CO₂e using DEFRA’s methane GWP factor.
A natural gas distribution company conducts leak detection and repair (LDAR) surveys to identify and fix fugitive methane emissions from its pipeline network.
How Climatise Helps
Climatise correctly applies DEFRA methane emission factors and GWP conversions when calculating emissions from natural gas, refrigerants, and waste, ensuring accurate CO₂e reporting for all methane sources.
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