Long-term study suggests landfill methane emissions are far higher than estimates

Methane is an especially potent greenhouse gas, causing much more warming than carbon dioxide on a unit-for-unit basis—and a new, uniquely long-term study of emissions at a New Jersey landfill suggests that estimates of methane pollution in the U.S. and elsewhere may be dramatically off. The study, published by researchers at Columbia University's Lamont-Doh

The top 3

  1. Energy Sector's Leaky Infrastructure: Methane leaks from natural gas and oil systems, including production, processing, and distribution, represent a significant portion of global anthropogenic methane emissions, contributing around 35% of the total.
  2. Livestock's Digestive Byproducts: Enteric fermentation in ruminant livestock, primarily cattle, is the largest agricultural source of methane, accounting for approximately 40% of global anthropogenic emissions.
  3. Waste: Landfills and Wastewater: The decomposition of organic waste in landfills and anaerobic digestion in wastewater treatment plants are significant sources, contributing about 20% of global anthropogenic methane emissions.

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