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by gpm
707 days ago
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Released methane is 27-30 times worse than released CO2 per unit mass measured over the next 100 years of warming [1]. Burning methane releases 1 CO2 molecule per CH4 molecule (CH4 + 2O2 -> CO2 + 2H2O), or 2.743 it's mass in CO2 [2]. To make up the difference in CO2 you'd have to be losing ~5% of the methane to the atmosphere along the way from extraction to burning. Do you have reason to believe anywhere near that much is lost? "Worse than coal" has set a very low bar for how not-bad methane needs to be. [1] https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/understanding-global-warmin... [2] https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?i=molecular+weight+of+CO2... |
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That study puts it at 9.4% of gross production. Many other sources exist which put 5% at a very realistic number. Fossil gas is dirt cheap, invisible, and leaks are large self-reported, so the companies have 0 reasons to properly test for or stop leaks.