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Environment & Energy

(20,302 posts)

6. On the flip side, we're emitting a LOT more methane than we thought we were

Thu May 12, 2016, 03:59 PM

May 2016

And since methane has a far greater impact short-term on planetary warming than CO2, that's kind of a big deal.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/04/15/epa-issues-large-upward-revision-to-u-s-methane-emissions/

We've also seen a substantial increase in methane levels over the past few years as fracking for natural gas has taken off in the US.

http://www.climatecentral.org/news/us-60-percent-of-global-methane-growth-20037

So I wouldn't celebrate too soon, seeing as all that extra methane released by our transition to natural gas basically makes it no better than burning coal.

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