Methane: Policy for a greenhouse gas

Methane: Policy for a greenhouse gas

• News
• January 11, 2025

Methane: Policy for a greenhouse gas

American Chemical Society
August 17-21, 2025
Washington, DC

The global market value of methane (natural gas) is projected to be $120 billion in 2025 and grow 5-10 % per year. Use of coal, oil, and gas contribute 120 million tons (Mt) of methane emission into the atmosphere each year. The United States is the largest emitter of methane (>10%) and closely followed by the Russian Federation. In terms of contribution to the greenhouse gas inventory (excluding water vapor) methane is second, between carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, and accounts for about 1/3 of the recent increase in Earth's surface temperature. The atmospheric concentration of methane is increasing faster than at any time since record keeping began in the 1980s, but its savior is a mean atmospheric lifetime of about ten years. Methane won’t disappear from the market anytime soon, but control of emission is a near-term opportunity to mitigate Earth’s atmospheric warming and climate change. This symposium includes methane sources and sinks, measurement, control, and use technology, climate modeling, regulatory impacts, and market supply and demand. Aligned with U.N. Sustainable Development Goals 7, Affordable and Clean Energy and 13, Climate Action.

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GEOC