Methane capture projects typically capture and/or combust methane generated by farm animals or landfills. Methane is a much more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide; when it is burned it is converted to carbon dioxide, thus reducing the global warming effect by 96%.
Methane capture projects have the advantage of being highly efficient, cost-effective means of reducing emissions. Emission reductions from methane capture projects are also generally easy to measure and monitor. Moreover, such projects can carry the co-benefits of odor reduction, reductions in ground- and surface-water contamination, and fuel production (in the form of captured methane).
On the other hand, concerns have been raised about the additionality of many methane capture projects.
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