Methane emissions are the low-hanging fruit of the climate transition

Six puits de pétrole en activité, survolés en avion. Les mesures à bord de l’avion ont permis d’obtenir des données régionales, et pour des sites isolés. Fourni par l'auteur

Methane is well known for coming from ruminants digestive system. What is less known is its important role in current climate change and what we could do to drastically reduce our emissions.

Methane (CH₄) is the second main greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide (CO₂). However, while CO₂ will persist in the atmosphere for centuries, methane reacts with other air molecules. The lifetime of methane in the atmosphere is approximately nine years, before it is consumed into CO₂. CH₄ molecules also have a much stronger warming potential than carbon dioxide: 84 times larger on a 20-year time scale. That’s why reducing methane emissions can have immediate and relatively effective impact on our climate.