Issue 61
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Weather Trivia |
The Power of Methane Gas |
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Canada's experience with implementing methane emissions reducing technologies and practices have shown that reducing this potent greenhouse gas makes both environmental and economic sense. Canada, as a new member of the US-led, international, Methane to Markets initiative, has an opportunity to share these experiences with other countries; assisting others to reduce climate-changing emissions, generating greenhouse gas emissions reduction credits, and creating new markets for Canadian products and expertise. |
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Methane to Markets is now entering its second year, and with an enhanced focus on increasing private sector investment in methane-reducing technologies, the partnership is looking for increased input and suggestions from the private sector, primarily through its Project Network. Why Methane?Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas (GHG) 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) and responsible for 16 per cent of global GHG emissions. The lion's share of anthropogenic human induced methane emissions comes from landfills, natural gas and oil systems, agriculture and coal mining.
Many of these emissions are preventable; doing nothing to curb them not only contributes to climate change, but also fails to capitalize on the potential profit of utilizing this previously-emitted, methane gas. Methane emissions reducing technologies and practices have already developed to the point where cost-effective solutions now exist for capturing methane gas and converting it into clean energy. What is Canada doing to reduce methane domestically?Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada have been working with provinces and the private sector to both raise awareness of methane's energy potential and support technological and innovative research in this area.
This work has assisted Canada in capturing 15 per cent (17 mega tonnes (Mt)) of the 111 Mt of CO2 equivalent emissions in 2003 (the last year for which inventory data is available). Preliminary studies indicate that an additional 15-20 Mt of CO2 equivalent emissions could be captured through the application of cost-effective practices and technologies to other landfills and oil and gas distribution systems. |
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