Methane is an invisible gas that can escalate the climate change issue significantly. It is a hydrocarbon that is a primary element of natural gas, which is used as a fuel to power stoves, heat homes, and the power industry. Methane is the second most significant contributor to global warming, after Carbon dioxide (CO2). Methane is like a thicker blanket than carbon dioxide, capable of warming the planet to a larger amount in a shorter period of time. Methane is emitted from both anthropogenic (man-made) and natural sources. In this article, we will discuss Methane as a Greenhouse Gas which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

What is Methane?

• Methane (CH4) is a colourless, tasteless, and combustible gas and the primary element of natural gas.
• Methane is the second most abundant anthropogenic GHG after CO2, accounting for approximately 20% of global emissions and is 25 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.
• Methane is emitted from both anthropogenic (man-made) and natural sources.
• Landfills, oil and natural gas pipelines, agricultural activities such as cattle rearing, coal mining, stationary and mobile combustion, wastewater treatment, and some industrial processes are examples of anthropogenic sources.
• It is present in lower concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere, but human activity has increased its concentration in recent decades.

Methane as a Greenhouse Gas

• Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential of 28-34 times that of CO2.
• Human activity is responsible for roughly 60% of global methane emissions.
• The oil and gas industries, agriculture (including fermentation, manure management, and rice cultivation), landfills, wastewater treatment, and coal mine emissions are the primary sources of anthropogenic methane emissions.
• It is estimated that the production, distribution, and use of fossil fuels emit 110 million tonnes of methane per year.
• Methane is the main component of natural gas, and some of it is released into the atmosphere during its production, processing, storage, transmission, distribution, and use.
• It is estimated that approximately 3% of total global natural gas production is lost each year due to venting, leakage, and flaring, resulting in significant economic and environmental costs.

Sources of Methane

Natural sources

• The largest source is natural wetlands, which emit CH4 from bacteria that decompose organic materials in the absence of oxygen.
• Wetlands are therefore regarded as the primary natural source of methane production because they account for about 30% of the total amount.
• Termites, oceans, sediments, volcanoes, and wildfires are examples of smaller sources.
• Termites for digestion produce around 23 million tonnes of methane per year.
• Volcanoes also produce methane when they erupt.
• Microbes in the ocean that produce methane contribute significantly to methane emissions. Oceans emit 19 million tonnes of methane each year on a global level.
• Methane hydrate deposits found along continental margins below Antarctic ice are also a natural source of methane.

Anthropogenic Sources

• Domestic livestock such as cattle, swine, sheep, and goats produce CH4 naturally as part of their digestive processes.
• CH4 is also produced when animal manure is stored or managed in lagoons or holding tanks.
• Natural gas is primarily composed of methane. Methane is released into the atmosphere during natural gas production, processing, storage, transmission, and distribution, as well as crude oil production, refinement, transportation, and storage.
• Coal mining also contributes to CH4 emissions.
• Methane is produced in landfills as waste decomposes and in wastewater treatment.
• Methane is also produced during the treatment of domestic and industrial wastewater, as well as during composting and anaerobic digestion.
• Agriculture, particularly cattle farming, submerged paddy fields.
• Coal, oil, and natural gas extraction, processing, storage, transmission, and distribution.
• Municipal solid waste dumping and wastewater treatment plant.
• Biomass burning - According to reports, it emits 38 million tonnes of methane every year.
• Certain industrial activities, for example, industrial wastewater treatment lagoons and industrial combustion sources.

What is the Impact of Methane?

• After CO2, methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas. However, it has a shorter life than carbon dioxide.
• Methane is 28 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in terms of global warming.
• It primarily exits the atmosphere by oxidation, producing carbon dioxide and water vapour, which together contribute to global warming.
• It also degrades air quality, which may be harmful to live beings, resulting in different health difficulties in animals and premature human mortality.
• Methane also helps to create ground-level ozone, which is a pollutant and a greenhouse gas.
• The abundance of other greenhouse gases, such as tropospheric ozone, water vapour, and carbon dioxide, can be affected by the presence of methane in the atmosphere.
• While methane has no direct impact on human health or crop production, ozone is responsible for approximately 1 million premature respiratory deaths worldwide.

What is the Need to Reduce Methane Emissions?

• According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), methane has been responsible for around 30% of global warming since pre-industrial times and is spreading at a faster rate.
• Even though methane emissions are caused by both natural and anthropogenic sources, current research indicates that human activities account for over 60% of methane emissions, worsening global warming.
• According to the recent Global Methane Assessment released by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), decreasing anthropogenic methane emissions by 45% would prevent roughly 0.3°C of global warming by 2045, contributing to a 1.5°C global temperature rise and help to meet the Paris Agreement targets.
• Reduced methane emissions could avoid many premature deaths, asthma-related hospitalization, lost labour due to high heat, and a large portion of agricultural losses worldwide.
• Furthermore, carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for centuries, whereas methane only remains for a few years, implying that reducing emissions will help in fighting climate change making it easier to meet Paris climate objectives.

Solutions to Reduce Methane Emissions

Due of methane's relatively short atmospheric lifetime and high warming potential, targeted emission reduction strategies can provide climate and health benefits within a few decades. The control measures, if implemented globally by 2030, have the potential to reduce global methane emissions by up to 40%. Several of these emission reductions could be accomplished with net savings, resulting in immediate benefits for the climate, public health, and agricultural yields.

Global Initiatives to Reduce Methane Emissions

• COP 26 Pledges: Over 100 countries excluding India, Russia and China signed an agreement at COP26 in Glasgow to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030, as methane may be easier to deal with than carbon dioxide.
• MethaneSAT 2022: MethaneSAT (Earth Observation Satellite) is a proposed American-New Zealand space mission to monitor and research worldwide methane emissions in order to mitigate climate change.
• UN Initiatives: The UN’s Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture initiative is assisting in the transformation of farming and food production, with an emphasis on how to preserve productivity in the context of climate change.

Initiatives Taken by India to Reduce Methane Emissions

• Harit Dhara initiative: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) developed an anti-methanogenic feed supplement which reduces methane emissions caused by livestock by 17-20%.
  • The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is committed to investing in a national strategy to promote biogas production in order to minimise methane emissions caused by anthropogenic activities.
  • In partnership with the country's three premier institutes, the Central Salt & Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI) developed a seaweed-based animal feed additive formulation that aims to minimise methane emissions from cattle while simultaneously boosting immunity in cattle and poultry.
• National Solar Mission (2010): The goal is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy by establishing the key policy conditions.
• National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): It was established in June 2008 with the purpose of formulating a comprehensive policy to tackle climate change.
• National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE): It was established in 2011 with the purpose of developing the energy efficiency industry through the implementation of appropriate laws and regulations.
• Bharat Stage (BS) VI norms: These are government-mandated emission control requirements aimed at minimising air pollution.

Conclusion

Agriculture is a major source to methane emissions, thus techniques such as preventing field burning after harvesting, changing animal feed, and draining rice paddies on a regular basis can help to reduce methane emissions. The fossil fuel industry may also contribute to emissions reductions through increasing identification and repair of methane leaks at oil and gas facilities, as well as flooding abandoned coal mines that leak the gas. Reducing garbage that ends up in landfills, recycling, and composting may all help with waste management thereby reducing emissions. Dedicated and coordinated efforts by member countries to commit to a goal and develop innovative technologies may help reduce methane emissions.

FAQs

MCQs

1. How much more effective is methane than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas?

A) 5 times
B) 10 times
C) 25 times
D) 50 times

2. Which of the following is the largest contributor to methane emissions?

A) Deforestation
B) Agriculture (livestock)
C) Industrial activities
D) Transportation

3. What is the approximate lifespan of methane in the atmosphere?

A) 5 years
B) 12 years
C) 50 years
D) 100 years

4. What is a significant natural source of methane?

A) Volcanic eruptions
B) Wetlands
C) Forest fires
D) Ocean currents

5. What is the role of methane in climate change?

A) It cools the atmosphere
B) It contributes to ozone depletion
C) It traps heat in the atmosphere
D) It has no effect on climate change

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the role of methane as a greenhouse gas and its impact on global climate change. What measures can be taken to reduce methane emissions?

Answer: Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming, being 25 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. Its sources include agriculture (livestock), landfills, wetlands, and fossil fuel extraction. Methane's short lifespan in the atmosphere, however, means that reducing emissions can have relatively quick benefits for climate stabilization. To reduce methane emissions, governments and industries can implement better waste management practices, optimize agricultural techniques, promote the use of methane capture technologies, and reduce fossil fuel leaks during extraction and transportation. Furthermore, increasing awareness of methane's role in climate change can encourage individuals and businesses to adopt methane-reducing practices.

Q2: How does methane emission from agriculture contribute to the greenhouse effect? Discuss the main agricultural practices responsible for methane release.

Answer: Methane is primarily emitted in agriculture due to digestive processes in livestock, especially ruminants such as cows and sheep. These animals produce methane during enteric fermentation, a digestive process that occurs in their stomachs. Additionally, rice paddies, which are flooded for cultivation, create anaerobic conditions that promote the production of methane. Methane from agricultural activities significantly contributes to the greenhouse effect by trapping heat in the atmosphere. To mitigate these emissions, practices such as improving livestock feed efficiency, capturing methane through biogas systems, and adopting alternative farming techniques can be employed. Agricultural reforms and better management of livestock and wetlands are essential to reducing methane emissions.

Q3: Evaluate the effectiveness of international agreements in addressing methane emissions. How can global cooperation be enhanced in reducing methane levels?

Answer: International agreements like the Paris Agreement have acknowledged the role of methane in climate change, though specific targets for methane reduction have not always been emphasized. Methane mitigation efforts are often part of broader climate change and emissions reduction goals. Enhanced global cooperation can be achieved by encouraging countries to establish methane-specific targets, share technologies for methane capture and reduction, and collaborate on research to understand methane sources and solutions better. Developing countries, where methane emissions from agriculture are significant, can benefit from technological transfers and financial support to adopt methane-reducing technologies. Additionally, establishing monitoring systems and reporting mechanisms will enhance accountability and progress towards global methane reduction goals.

Previous Year Questions on Environment

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2021:

Question: Which of the following gases is considered a major greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming?

A) Methane
B) Nitrous oxide
C) Carbon dioxide
D) All of the above

Answer: (D)

Explanation: Methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide are all major greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Methane, in particular, is 25 times more effective at trapping heat than CO2 over a 100-year period.

2. UPSC CSE Prelims 2019:

Question: Which of the following is the primary source of methane emissions in India?

A) Waste management
B) Agriculture
C) Energy production
D) Forest fires

Answer: (B)

Explanation: Agriculture, particularly livestock farming, is the primary source of methane emissions in India. Enteric fermentation in ruminant animals is a major contributor.