Pollutant Information: Methane 

About Methane

Category: Greenhouse gases

Methane contributes to climate change due to its positive radiative forcing effect, and is the second most significant greenhouse gas in the UK after CO₂. The major emitting sources in recent years are enteric fermentation, landfilling of wastes, and leakage from the gas distribution system. Historically, coal extraction was also a very significant source of methane emissions, but this source has declined as coal-mining activity in the UK has reduced. Emissions from all major methane sources have declined, contributing to the overall reduction of 62% since 1990. Total emissions in the waste sector have decreased by 76% primarily due to reductions in emissions from landfilled waste. The reduction in emissions in this sector is responsible for 57% of the total decrease in methane emissions since 1990. Emissions from agriculture have decreased by 14% since 1990, following the trend of decreasing livestock numbers. In the energy sector, the reduced coal mining activity, and improvements to the gas distribution network have contributed to an overall decrease in emissions of 85% since 1990. Decreases in this sector have contributed 38% to the total decrease in methane emissions.

» View and Download Methane emission summary data

Time series graph

Notable events