Methane is a chemical that is made of one carbon and is bonded with four hydrogen atoms. Methane’s chemical formula is MH4. Methane is almost found in every place on Earth. It is used as fuel, but capturing and storing it is challenging. Methane is found as a gas at normal temperatures and pressures. Naturally, methane is found in the Earth’s crust and below the seafloor, it is formed by biological and geological processes. The biggest reservoir for methane is found under the seafloor. When methane reaches the surface, it is called atmospheric methane. Scientists have found that the methane level has increased more than two times since the Industrial Revolution. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, and it has the second-largest impact on global warming after carbon dioxide.

Methane emissions can be divided into two categories: those that occur naturally and those that are the result of human activity. Natural methane is mainly emitted from wetlands, forest fires, termite infestations, and oceanic tidal movements. Human-caused methane is emitted from agricultural, energy, and petrochemical industries and is also caused by the generation and disposal of human waste. Like carbon dioxide, methane also acts as a blanket around Earth. This not only raises global temperatures but also contributes to climate change events like the melting of the polar ice caps and the rising of sea levels. It also leads to more noticeable symptoms, such as more frequent and intense extreme weather events. If we compare methane and carbon dioxide, then we can’t say which one is worse. Methane lingers in Earth’s atmosphere less than CO2, about 12 years compared to CO2’s hundreds of years. There is also 200 times less CH4 in the atmosphere than CO2. Methane traps heat much better than carbon dioxide.

Agricultor is the main cause of methane level growth in the atmosphere. Livestock emissions, which include manure and gastroenteric releases, contribute to approximately 32% of methane emissions caused by humans. The demand for animal protein has significantly increased due to population growth, economic development, and urban migration. As the global population is expected to reach 10 billion, this demand is projected to rise by up to 70% by 2050. However, agricultural methane emissions are not solely caused by animals. Rice cultivation, where flooded fields create an oxygen-deprived environment ideal for methane-emitting bacteria, accounts for an additional 8% of human-related emissions.

Methane doesn’t only impact global warming, it also affects the ozone layer. Methane is polluting the air, it doesn’t directly harm human health, but ozone is causing around one million premature deaths all over the world. Ozone has increased in the troposphere because of methane. Methane plays a role in the production of tropospheric ozone and the rise in atmospheric temperatures. This, in turn, leads to significant losses in staple crops, amounting to about 15% each year. Additionally, methane’s effects on climate change and public health result in a global loss of approximately 400 million work hours annually due to extreme heat. However, most of the measures identified to reduce methane emissions are cheaper than the societal benefits they bring. These benefits are estimated to be around $4,300 per ton of methane.
 
In conclusion, to hold global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius, the world must lower its methane emissions by at least 35–40% in 2030. Since the methane life span in the atmosphere is relatively short, if we manage to lower the methane level, the results on our health and the environment will be seen within a few decades. To lower the methane emissions, we must learn how to improve agriculture and find better ways to feed livestock. Recycling is something that has been talked about for a long time, but we still don’t do it well enough. So governments should invest more money in recycling, and this would also create more jobs. To sum it all up, we have different options to reduce methane concentration in the atmosphere, we just have to take action.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methane
https://www.envirotech-online.com/news/air-monitoring/6/breaking-news/how-does-methane-contribute-to-climate-change/57220
https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/methane/
https://www.ccacoalition.org/short-lived-climate-pollutants/methane