Climate 101: Natural Gas

CLIMATE 101: NATURAL GAS © 2013 Garrett Matteson/Flickr cc by NC-SA 2.0 THE BASICS Natural gas is a growing energy source—one many are putting a lot of faith in. But the arguments in support of natural gas are often based on outdated or incorrect information (sometimes going so far as to border on wishful thinking). Proponents like to portray the fuel as a cuddlier cousin to coal and oil when it comes to climate because it generates less carbon dioxide when burned. But its CO2 emissions are only one piece of a far more nuanced puzzle. WHAT IS NATURAL GAS? Like coal and oil, natural gas is a fossil fuel. Fossil fuels (which we burn to generate heat and electricity) are non-renewable sources of energy formed in the earth over the past 550 million years, typically from the remains of marine microorganisms and plants. Sealed o昀昀 from oxygen and put under ever-increasing amounts of heat and pressure, this organic matter undergoes a thermal breakdown process that ultimately converts it to hydrocarbons. The lightest of these hydrocarbons occur in a gaseous state known collectively as “natural gas,” which in its pure form is a colorless, odorless gas composed primarily of methane. QUICK FACTS • Natural gas is frequently produced through hydraulic fracturing – better known as “fracking.” Studies have found that fracking is one of the least sustainable ways to produce electricity. • Natural gas is not a zero-emissions fuel. When burned, it produces approximately half the carbon emissions of coal per unit of electricity generated, but the drilling, extraction, and pipeline transportation of natural gas frequently results in methane leakage. These leaks can sometimes be substantial. Learn more at climaterealityproject.org Last updated February 2019