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Methane Primary Threat Considered Secondary Issue

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Methane Primary Threat Considered Secondary Issue
Methane
Primary Threat
Considered Secondary Issue

Methane (CH4) is a hydrocarbon that is a primary component of natural gas. It is a greenhouse gas present in the atmosphere, which affects the earth 's temperature and climate system. Next to carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane is the second most prevalent anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas. Although there is far more carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution than methane and soot pollution, Methane is far more potent. To what extent does Methane effect climate change and what are the uses and limitations of science in addressing this issue? Methane is influenced by various natural and anthropogenic factors such as landfills, farms, drilling for natural gas, and coal mining. All of these factors that generate Methane emissions create ground level o-zone which is not only hazardous for our health, but it is a great concern for our climate. EPA is one of several organizations that plays a significant role in encouraging voluntary reductions from large corporations, consumers, industrial and commercial buildings and many major industrial sectors. Although EPA has effectively decreased methane emissions, there are still several reasons why the initiatives are not as widespread.

This topic is worthy of investigation because Methane is overlooked and considered a secondary issue compared to Carbon Dioxide. Methane is in fact a greater threat to our climate than Carbon dioxide C02 because of Methane’s ability of the gas to trap heat in the atmosphere is 25 times that of C02, which most people are unaware of. There is a great amount of natural and anthropogenic sources that emit methane into our atmosphere and can be reduced. EPA encourages large corporations and consumers to reduce the amount of Methane emitted while maintaining economic growth. People need to understand the effects of Methane to our climate and how simply it can be reduced, which will be argued in this paper.

Methane (CH4) is a primary



Bibliography: "2011 U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. Feb. 2012. . “Bergman, Jennifer. "Effects of Climate Change Today." Windows to the Universe. Earth Scientist, 15 Oct. 2011. Web. Feb. 2012. .” “Coal Mining: Preliminary Draft." EPA "Greenhouse Gas Reduction Initiatives." Welcome to the RDN. Capewell Design, 25 Nov. 2011. Web. Feb. 2012. . “London, John. "Natural Sources of Methane Gas." EHow. Demand Media, 30 May 2011. Web. Feb. 2012. .” “Reilly et al "Sources and Emissions." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 18 Apr. 2011. Web. Feb. 2012. . [2] London, John. "Natural Sources of Methane Gas." EHow. Demand Media, 30 May 2011. Web. Feb. 2012. . [3] "Greenhouse Gas Reduction Initiatives." Welcome to the RDN. Capewell Design, 25 Nov. 2011. Web. Feb. 2012. . [4] "2011 U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. Feb. 2012. . [5] Reilly et al. 2003. Multi-Gas Contributors to Global Climate Change: Climate Impacts and Mitigation Costs of Non-CO2 Gases (PDF, 60 pp, 1.2 MB)  [6] Bergman, Jennifer 3 "Greenhouse Gas Reduction Initiatives." Welcome to the RDN. Capewell Design, 25 Nov. 2011. Web. Feb. 2012. . 4 "2011 U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. Feb. 2012. .

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