METHANE

• Methane is among the most potent greenhouse gases and scientists say controlling emissions from cow and sheep, rice fields and the oil and gas industry is a major step in limiting climate change.
• Methane is a major component of natural gas and is 23 times more potent in trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
• Estimated annual global emissions by source, in million tonnes are as follows ;

MAN MADE -

• Energy generation - 95
• Ruminant animals - 93
• Rice cultivation - 60
• Biomass burning - 52
• Landfill - 50

NATURAL -

• Wetlands - 145
• Termites - 20
• Ocean - 10
• Hyrates (Marine and terrestrial) - 5

Sources - REUTERS