Glossary topic · 19 terms
Methane.
The short-lived, high-impact gas that runs on a twenty-year clock.
Anthropogenic methane
Methane emissions caused by human activity.
MethaneBiogenic methane
Methane produced from recently living organic material through biological processes.
MethaneFlaring
Combustion of a gas stream in a device designed to burn it.
MethaneFossil methane
Methane originating from carbon stored in geological deposits over long periods.
MethaneFugitive emissions
Unintended releases of gas from equipment, infrastructure or other sources.
MethaneGlobal Methane Pledge
A voluntary international initiative in which participating countries aim for a collective cut in methane emissions from human activity.
MethaneLandfill methane
Methane formed when food, paper, wood and other organic waste decompose without oxygen inside a landfill.
MethaneLeak detection and repair
A programme for identifying leaks, prioritising repairs and checking whether the fixes worked.
MethaneMethane
A greenhouse gas with the formula CH₄ and the main component of natural gas.
MethaneMethane abatement
Measures that reduce methane releases compared with a defined reference situation.
MethaneMethane capture
Collection of methane-containing gas before it escapes into the atmosphere.
MethaneMethane intensity
Methane emissions expressed per unit of output or activity.
MethaneMethane oxidation
A chemical process that converts methane into other compounds, ultimately including CO₂ and water in complete oxidation.
MethaneMethane plume
A concentration of methane carried away from an emission source by air movement.
MethaneMethane slip
Methane that passes through a process or combustion device without being destroyed.
MethaneShort-lived climate pollutant
A climate-forcing substance that remains in the atmosphere for a relatively short period compared with CO₂.
MethaneSuper-emitter
A source responsible for an unusually large methane release relative to comparable sources.
MethaneSuper-pollutant
A common label for pollutants with strong climate effects, often over short timescales.
MethaneVenting
The intentional release of gas into the atmosphere.