Setting the reasonable terms of the methane debate

Protests like this one fundamentally misunderstand how methane affects climate change, Adrian Macey and Dave Frame argue. (Image: Getty)

Adrian Macey and Dave Frame

Mon, 07 Jul 2025

To a casual observer of the debate over methane’s contribution to climate change, you’d think the issue was whether or not there is any point in reducing methane emissions.That is as wrong as some of the criticisms levelled at New Zealand’s approach to the issue.That methane emissions need to come down is not at issue. Agricultural methane emissions currently sustain about 0.3°C of warming.However, context is important. That 0.3°C is all the warming from agricultural methane since 1750.By comparison, carbon dioxi...

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