Food waste and agriculture are major drivers of methane emissions

Researchers have found that human activities, especially food production and waste, are responsible for two-thirds of global methane emissions, offering a chance for intervention.

Frida Garza reports for Grist.

In short:

• Global methane emissions have risen rapidly, with agriculture and waste contributing nearly twice as much as fossil fuel production.
• Livestock farming, particularly cattle and sheep, is the largest agricultural source of methane, with dietary changes and innovations like seaweed feed additives as potential solutions.
• Managing food waste better, such as through composting, can also significantly reduce methane emissions.

Key quote:

Reducing methane "is also seen as a possible way to buy time.”

— Peter Raymond, professor of ecosystem ecology at the Yale School of the Environment

Why this matters:

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that traps heat much more effectively than CO2, though it has a shorter lifespan. Reducing methane emissions can provide a faster impact in slowing global warming, making it a key target for climate action.

Learn more: How the world wastes an astonishing amount of food, in three charts