CH₄ (Methan)
CH₄, also known as methane, is a colorless, odorless gas considered one of the most significant greenhouse gases. It is primarily produced through natural processes and human activities, with a significantly higher global warming potential (GWP) than CO₂, despite its shorter atmospheric lifespan.
Methane is the second most common greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide and plays a pivotal role in climate change. It is naturally produced through biological processes such as the decomposition of organic matter in wetlands and through human activities, including:
- Agriculture: Livestock farming (e.g., cattle) is one of the largest sources, particularly due to methane production during digestion.
- Energy Production: Extraction and transportation of fossil fuels like natural gas and oil release methane.
- Waste Management: Landfills and wastewater treatment plants produce methane during the anaerobic breakdown of organic materials.
Methane is particularly harmful to the climate due to its Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 28–34 over a 100-year timeframe. This means that one ton of methane has the same warming effect as 28–34 tons of CO₂. However, methane remains in the atmosphere for only about 12 years, compared to hundreds of years for CO₂.
International initiatives such as the Global Methane Pledge aim to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030.
For businesses, especially in agriculture, energy production, and waste management, addressing methane emissions is becoming an increasingly strategic challenge. Companies that generate methane emissions or indirectly influence them in their supply chains are under growing regulatory pressure to monitor and reduce these emissions. Methane emissions can fall under Scope 1 (direct emissions from owned operations) or Scope 3 (indirect emissions across the supply chain) categories.
