Greenhouse effect and global warming
Environmental Chemistry · Chemistry
Study notes
Why is methane a bigger short-term worry than CO₂ per molecule? Step 1: Per molecule, CH₄ traps ~80× more heat than CO₂ (20-year horizon). Step 2: But CH₄ lasts ~12 years; CO₂ lasts centuries. Step 3: Cutting CH₄ gives fast climate relief; CO₂ needs long-term cuts. Step 4: Potency × lifetime decides — both matter, differently!