Coal vs. Natural Gas

Methane tips the climate scales

Methane is responsible for 30 percent of the rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution, and the energy sector accounts for nearly 40 percent of those emissions. Cutting methane emissions offers huge potential for quick, affordable climate action.

RMI’s “Coal vs. Gas” analysis has shown that methane emissions from natural gas supply chains have been inaccurately calculated for decades — leaving out the climate risk resulting from equipment leaks and flaring. A rapidly advancing network of satellites and sensors has shown that methane leakage is far greater and more frequent than assumed, and that super-emitter events like major pipeline leaks releasing tons of methane per hour are not being accounted for in industry self-reporting on emissions. Accounting for these factors in comparative analysis concluded that a methane leakage of just 0.2 percent in a gas system can bring its climate risk on par with coal.

Learn more about RMI’s recommendations for urgent action to cut methane emissions and increase inefficiency in the gas industry.

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