• Question: Would it be more beneficial to focus on reducing methane production, since it would have a more significant impact on temperature?

    Asked by Liz on 14 Jun 2023.
    • Photo: Amy Stockwell

      Amy Stockwell answered on 14 Jun 2023:

      When we talk about carbon dioxide, we are actually talking about a huge range of green house gases including methane, nitrous oxides, CFCs and more. But we measure them in terms of carbon dioxide equivalents (for example 1 molecule of methane has the same impact as 25 molecules of CO2). Often we shorten this to just ‘carbon’.

      And yes as methane is a more impactful molecule than carbon dioxide then we should focus on it. But in reality if something emits CO2 then it usually emits methane too, so looking at both at the same time is easiest.

    • Photo: John Grasmeder

      John Grasmeder answered on 16 Jun 2023:

      You are right, methane has a great greenhouse effect than CO2 but so do many other gases, like CFCs, which damage the ozone layer. Oxides of nitrogen also create this effect but indirectly via chemical reactions in the high atmosphere. So ideally, we need to be aware of them all and reduce them all.

    • Photo: Alexander De Bruin

      Alexander De Bruin answered on 16 Jun 2023:

      I would say that it’s beneficial to also focus on methane, rather than instead of CO2. There is new legislation from governments around the world about how much methane can be emitted by cars, which will help. Also, more people moving away from eating beef will help as the cattle trade emits a huge quantity of methane.

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