Both methane and carbon dioxide are climate change culprits • Michigan Advance
Both methane and carbon dioxide are climate change culprits • Michigan Advance Michigan Advance
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Methane and Carbon Dioxide: A Closer Look at Greenhouse Gases
Methane is frequently portrayed as a clean source of energy. However, it is important to understand the significant environmental impact it has as a potent greenhouse gas.
The Power of Methane vs Carbon Dioxide
NASA has stated that “in its first 20 years of reaching the atmosphere, methane has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide (CO2).” On the other hand, the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium at the University of Illinois states that “carbon dioxide is responsible for about three-quarters of global warming.”
How can this be? Both methane and carbon dioxide contribute to global warming, but the devil lies in the details.
- Methane traps 80 times as much heat as the same amount of carbon dioxide over a relatively short time of 20 years.
- However, over a much longer time period, the harmful impact of carbon dioxide surpasses that of methane.
The Role of Methane and Carbon Dioxide
Methane is a primary source of atmospheric carbon dioxide. When methane is burned as a fuel, it produces carbon dioxide, which further exacerbates the environmental problems caused by methane. This relationship between the two gases amplifies the negative impact on the environment.
Research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) confirms that methane is the second most important greenhouse gas. However, over the “long haul,” carbon dioxide has a more detrimental effect.
“Methane is about 200 times less abundant in the atmosphere, as it lasts for roughly a decade, while CO2 can last for centuries,” write Andrew Moseman of the MIT Climate Portal Writing Team and Jessika Trancik, associate professor at the MIT Institute for Data, Systems and Society. “To put it another way, methane does its damage quickly, but soon fades away, while CO2 traps a smaller amount of heat, but consistently causes damage, decade after decade.”
Recognizing the Impact of Both Gases
Both methane and carbon dioxide significantly contribute to climate change. It is crucial not to overlook the dominant role of carbon dioxide in this story. The claim that methane is a source of green energy, while ignoring carbon dioxide, is false and deceiving. Each gas is a major contributor to climate change and should be addressed accordingly.
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SDGs, Targets and Indicators
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SDG 13: Climate Action
- Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
- Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
- Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning
- Target 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing states
The article discusses the harmful impact of methane and carbon dioxide on the environment, highlighting their contribution to climate change. This aligns with SDG 13, which aims to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
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SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
- Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
The article mentions methane as a source of energy, which can be seen as a connection to SDG 7, which focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing states | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency | No specific indicators mentioned in the article |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: michiganadvance.com
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