“Why not go out on a limb? That’s where the fruit is.”
Mark Twain
Methane is a like the quiet kid who causes trouble, then watches the other kids takes the blame. Carbon dioxide is the known problem-child of climate change, but methane is actually a more potent heat-trapping gas. The good news is there are some relatively simple ways to stop these emissions, which makes methane the low-hanging fruit of climate solutions.
Where do methane emissions come from?
An estimated 60% of methane emissions come from natural sources like wetlands. The remaining 40% come from human sources, including:
- Fossil fuels – extraction, transportation, and use
- Livestock farming – notably, cow burps
- Landfills – decomposing food and other waste
With the decline of coal plants around the world, natural gas has stepped in to take its place. Methane has been rising steadily in the atmosphere this century, but started to accelerate around 2007.
Some view natural gas as a “bridge fuel” to get us through the transition from fossil fuels, but if energy companies keep investing in natural gas plants, it will be harder to break away.
While cleaner than coal or oil, natural gas comes with its own set of problems. It emits methane with and without being burned. Leaks can happen when gas is extracted from the ground through fracking, and also while being transported through pipelines.
Controlling methane is critical because it is 80x more effective at trapping the sun’s heat than CO2.
Low hanging fruit is still fruit
Preventing and stopping methane leaks is a low-hanging fruit because most gas leaks come from a small number of sources. NASA has inadvertently discovered “super-emitters” of methane around the world through satellites imaging. Pinpointing leaks is the first step toward stopping them.
Reducing food waste and consuming less meat will also go a long way toward solving the problem. These changes need to happen on both the individual and commercial levels.
What is being done?
On a positive note, methane doesn’t hang around in the atmosphere as long as CO2. So, if we can stop emissions, methane will go away in roughly 10 years, unlike CO2 which will hang around for centuries.
Energy companies are taking steps – to varying degrees – to identify and control leaks. Data shows these fixes are relatively inexpensive, and end up saving companies money because they prevent the loss of product.
Meanwhile, leaders around the world are realizing the urgency of the situation. Over 150 nations, including the US, signed a Global Methane Pledge in 2021. It aims to use voluntary actions to reduce methane emissions between 2020 and 2030 by 30%.
These are positive steps, but the process needs to accelerate in order to prevent further warming.
What can we do?
- Educate ourselves about the problem of methane leaks and solutions
- Learn what our local energy companies are doing. For example, a quick internet search uncovered Duke Energy’s plan.
- Waste less food
- Try adding a meatless day each week
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Think about it. Talk about it.