Methane emissions in the United States 1990-2022

Methane (CH₄) emissions in the United States were equivalent to 761 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO₂e) in 2022. Although the U.S. has reduced its annual methane emissions by roughly 18 percent since 1990, it is still the third-largest methane emitter worldwide.

Sources of methane in the U.S.

Human-caused methane emissions come from a variety of sources, but the largest source of methane in the U.S. is the energy sector. These emissions mainly stem from oil and gas systems. Agriculture is the second-largest contributor to U.S. methane emissions, with enteric fermentation the primary source of emissions from this sector.

Reducing methane emissions

Due to its potency, reducing global methane emissions is vital for combating climate change, especially in the short-term/ in the next decade. Because of this, the U.S. and the EU-27 launched the Global Methane Pledge in 2021, which aims to cut global methane emissions by 30 percent below 2020 levels by 2030. More than 100 countries have joined the pledge.