Methane and carbon dioxide are the main two gases that trap the heat from the sun that is deflected from the Earth’s surface and prevent it from escaping into space. Their impact on our planet is now more usually known as the ‘greenhouse effect’ which causes global warming. Methane and carbon dioxide account for over 90% of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
As a result of global warming, the annual temperature rises each year. Over the last forty years, this increase has reached alarming rates of 0.18 degrees Celsius (0.32 degrees Fahrenheit) per decade.
Methane accounts for 20% of the greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and while it is removed from the atmosphere faster than carbon dioxide, it captures heat 25 times more efficiently. This article reveals the effects of methane on our planet’s temperature increase and the possible solutions to reduce this.
Methane effects on global warming
Methane, also known as CH4, accounts for 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions and is the second most prolific gas after carbon dioxide (CO2) which accounts for over 70% of emissions.Why is methane more potent than CO2?
Methane has received far too little focus in discussions about global warming. It is also known as a ‘super pollutant’ since it traps heat several times more ‘successfully’ than CO2. However, it also degrades much faster and is almost completely removed from the atmosphere after around 10 years whereas CO2 can remain in the atmosphere for centuries.
Methane is responsible for the creation of ground-level ozone (also known as smog), a harmful air pollutant. According to statistics provided by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, even though CO2 emissions slowed down during the lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the volume of CH4 in the atmosphere nevertheless registered an increase.
Methane concentrations in the atmosphere are presently around 2.5 times higher than pre-industrial levels (i.e., before 1850) and they are continually rising.
Fig.1. Sources of methane emissions (in millions of tons)
Source: Methane Tracker 2020
The latest report presented by the UN Environment Programme showed that a 45% cut in the release of human-caused methane might potentially lead to the following annual results:
- Prevention of 260,000 premature deaths
- Prevention of 775,000 cases linked with asthma
- Prevention of crop losses of up to 25 million tons
Where does methane come from?
Methane originates from a variety of sources including oil and gas pipelines, landfills, and livestock, the latter being the major source of CH4 emissions. The more animals in an agricultural setting there are, the more methane is generated.
See also: Meat production reduction, the great absentee of climate summit COP26
Livestock pollution, including manure and gastroenteric leaks, contributes to around 32% of all human-related CH4 emissions. A continuously growing population and rapid urbanization have created a high demand for animal protein and by 2050 (when the world’s population is expected to reach 10 billion), the demand for animal-based foods is expected to have increased by up to 70% which could contribute considerably to global warming.
Can we decrease methane emissions?
Agriculture – Solutions to reduce methane emissions include not burning fields following harvesting, modifying animal diets to produce less methane, and emptying rice paddy fields on a regular basis.
Fossil fuels – The list of solutions includes enhancing the detection and repair of methane leaks at oil and gas plants as well as flooding defunct coal mines that still leak this gas.
Waste – Methane is released when organic waste in landfills and wastewater breaks down. Options to solve this include recycling and composting the waste that accumulates in landfills, trapping CH4, and flaring which means burning off the gas.
Other solutions:
- Producing biofuels from organic waste
- Husbandry (breeding, better pasture quality)
- Expanding the usage of cover crops (to avoid soil erosion and to enrich soil with nutrients)
- Livestock manure administration.
Now that we are in the 21st century which is characterized by growing populations and higher energy and food demand, there are two key questions that everyone must ask themselves. Have we given sufficient thought to global warming? Are people playing their part in saving the Earth from overheating?
See also: Global Warming and Climate Change: Definition and Differences
Experts who specialize in climate change research, including oceanographers, atmospheric researchers, and meteorologists, view our planet as a linked ecosystem in which the climate, ocean, forests, and wildlife all interact and are interdependent.
If society takes no action and allows the use of fossil fuels to continue warm our planet, there is a high risk of this resulting in dangerous global warming effects such as the melting of mountain glaciers and ice in the Arctic and Antarctica among other outcomes. It may also result in catastrophic consequences such as a 20-meter rise in sea levels, the re-glaciation of the European continent, and significant climate changes that would leave most of today’s populated areas unsafe for human habitation.
