The atmospheric concentration of methane has more than doubled since the start of the industrial revolution. Its contribution to easing global warming has been widely documented, yet it is counterintuitive that this has been the case. Despite recent studies and analyses suggesting the importance of methane in mitigating the rapid rate of climate change, the purpose that it places on the greenhouse effect has yet to be fully understood.
Methane, primarily produced by the decomposition of organic matter, is a potent compound. It is approximately 25 times more efficient than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, meaning its effects on global warming are potentially more devastating than those caused by other greenhouse gases (GHGs). Consequently, some sources of methane emissions, such as landfills, cattle farming, and coal mining, have been legally monitored in recent times.
Generally, the emitted methane can either be transferred into the atmosphere or remain trapped in the soil and be recycled naturally. The latter is usually beneficial when the warming of the planet is concerned as the process helps prevent the oxideization of the GHGs into the environment. In contrast, the oxidation releases the molecule into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
Considering this, it is established that the amount of methane released into the air by humans may be insufficient to offset the amount of global warming caused by other man-made sources such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. Reports by the US Sentencing Commission, for instance, shows that methane from human activities has only contributed to roughly 11-12% of global warming since the industrial revolution, which is an estimation that remains difficult to confirm due to the uncertainties in emissions factors.
Despite the lingering questions, we can conclude that the decrease of methane emissions could be a key step in promoting global energy efficiency, thereby reducing the impacts of global warming. Governments and international organizations should, therefore, continue to develop policies to encourage the adoption of renewable energy sources and incentivize the reduction of GHGs through education and better support by the industry.
To ensure that our host planet continues to be inhabitable, we must strive to reduce our contributions to global warming, and reducing methane emissions is a critical first step. This is the time to act quickly and take charge of our actions to ensure that our environment remains livable for future generations. Governments, communities, businesses, and each one of us have a role to play in the fight against global warming.
