Methane Matters

The document highlights that methane is approximately 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over 20 years and contributes to half a degree of warming to date. In the UK, methane represents about 13% of net greenhouse gas emissions, with agriculture (58%), waste (31%), and energy (12%) as the primary sources. The UK is a signatory to the Global Methane Pledge, aiming for a collective global reduction of at least 30% by 2030 from a 2020 baseline. Analysis suggests the UK could reduce its methane emissions by at least 43% by 2030 through specific actions: implementing a methane action plan for agriculture (including feed additives and slurry management), banning oil and gas flaring by 2025 and tackling leaks in the North Sea, and banning biodegradable waste in landfills while improving biogas capture.

• Methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas, approximately 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, and is responsible for half a degree of global warming to date. Reducing these emissions could lower warming by 0.3°C within the next 20 years due to methane's atmospheric lifespan of about a decade.
• In the UK, methane constitutes roughly 13% of net greenhouse gas emissions. The sectoral breakdown of these emissions is dominated by agriculture at 58%, followed by waste at 31% and energy at 12%.
• The UK has committed to the Global Methane Pledge to reduce global emissions by at least 30% by 2030. To exceed this, the UK could potentially cut its own emissions by at least 43% by 2030 through targeted interventions in agriculture, energy (including a recommended ban on oil and gas flaring by 2025), and waste (including a ban on biodegradable waste in landfills).

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). Methane Matters. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/15161932/methane-matters-uk.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Methane Matters. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/15161932/methane-matters-uk.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Methane Matters |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/15161932/methane-matters-uk.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforcendmethane, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Methane Matters}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/15161932/methane-matters-uk.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }