Empowering a Methane-Free Tomorrow

Join the Movement: Lowering Methane, Lifting Our World
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas because it has a much greater ability to trap heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, although it is present in lower concentrations. Over a 20-year period, methane is roughly 84 times more effective at warming the Earth than carbon dioxide. Its contribution to climate change is significant because it accelerates the greenhouse effect, which leads to rising global temperatures. Methane is released through human activities such as fossil fuel extraction, livestock farming, and landfills, as well as from natural sources like wetlands. Reducing methane emissions is considered a critical strategy in mitigating climate change in the short term.

Methane emissions are a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and play an important role in climate change mitigation efforts. Methane, as one of the primary GHGs, is a short-lived GHG that has a much higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide over a shorter time-period.Methane is responsible for around 14–16% of total global GHG emissions, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change .As heat wave occurrences are predicted to occur more frequently and intensely over the planet, climate change is likely to make these problems worse .

Understanding and controlling methane emissions have become an essential priority as global concerns about climate change continue to rise. The cattle industry has emerged as a major contributor to methane emissions among many sources (e.g., pigs and chickens). Therefore, ruminant emissions of GHGs have received significant attention in recent years. Because of enteric fermentation and manure management procedures, livestock operations, especially beef and dairy production, are responsible for significant methane emissions.

Cows: The Leading Contributor to Methane Emissions in Livestock and Agriculture

Cows, particularly those in dairy and beef production, are a major source of methane emissions, making them the leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions within livestock and agriculture. Methane (CH₄) is a potent greenhouse gas, with over 25 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. In the context of agriculture, cattle are the primary livestock responsible for methane emissions due to their unique digestive systems and the ways their waste is managed. Below are the key aspects of why cows are the leading contributors to methane emissions in both livestock and agriculture:

Enteric Fermentation: The Main Source of Methane

  • Methane is the main greenhouse gas produced in grazing systems. Ruminant livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) have microbes in their rumen called methanogens. These microbes produce methane (from the fermentation of feed) that is then belched out. Feed with lower digestibility produces more methane than higher quality feeds. Belched methane represents energy lost from your production system that might otherwise be converted to the milk, meat or fibre that generates income.

    Methane is a major inefficiency in animal production systems with 6% to 10% of gross energy intake lost as methane. This energy loss has been calculated as the equivalent of up to:

    • 55 to 60 days grazing intake for ewes and steers
    • 40 days for dairy cows.

    Livestock urine and dung deposition, nitrogen fertiliser applications and atmospheric nitrogen fixed by legumes are the largest inputs of reactive nitrogen to soil for grazing enterprises.

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Factors Affecting Methane Emissions​
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Agriculture

Livestock such as cows, buffalo, and sheep produce methane as part of their digestive process, accounting for around 30% of global methane emissions.

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Natural Gas and Oil Systems

Leaks and venting from natural gas and oil production, processing, and transportation infrastructure release methane into the atmosphere.

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Landfills

As organic waste breaks down in landfills, it produces methane, which can be released into the atmosphere if not captured.

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Coal Mining

Methane is released from coal seams during mining activities.

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Wetlands and Rice Paddies

Microorganisms in these ecosystems produce methane as a byproduct of decomposition.

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Biomass Burning

Burning of biomass, such as wood and other organic materials, releases methane into the atmosphere.

Key Statistics
  • Methane has a global warming potential 28 times higher than carbon dioxide over a 100-year time frame.
 
Mitigation Strategies
To reduce methane emissions, various strategies can be employed, such as:
  • Improving livestock feed and manure management practices
  • Implementing methane capture and utilization technologies in landfills and natural gas systems
  • Enhancing coal mine methane recovery and utilization
  • Promoting sustainable rice cultivation practices
  • Encouraging the use of renewable energy sources and increasing energy efficiency
By understanding the factors contributing to methane emissions and implementing effective mitigation strategies, we can work towards reducing the impact of methane on the environment.
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