Fact sheet: fugitive methane
Overview of fugitive methane emissions
Methane is a gas that naturally exists in the atmosphere at low concentrations. It can also be emitted from industrial processes. At room temperature and pressure, methane is colourless and odourless. Unintended or uncontrolled releases of methane are known as fugitive emissions. Fugitive methane is methane emitted by an industrial activity that is not from a point source of combustion but includes flaring. Examples include venting of gas from coal mines and gas processing facilities, leaks from pressurised gas lines, and surface emissions from waste facilities (such as landfills) and sewage treatment plants. In 2021, approximately 8% of NSW’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions were fugitive methane emissions.
Methane and climate change
Methane is a greenhouse gas, along with other gases including carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases. Greenhouse gas emissions are expressed as ‘carbon dioxide equivalent’ to account for the different global warming potentials of each gas compared to carbon dioxide over a 100 year period. Methane has a high global warming potential and a short atmospheric lifetime compared to carbon dioxide. This means that, per molecule, methane can warm the Earth faster than carbon dioxide.
Learn more about the climate change threat.
Managing fugitive methane emissions is a priority for the EPA and reducing methane emissions will significantly contribute to NSW achieving its target of net zero emissions by 2050 under the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023.
See Climate change and NSW to see how the NSW government is responding to climate change.
Action on fugitive methane emissions
The EPA has a critical role in protecting the environment from the threat of climate change and in delivering actions that will support NSW to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Our Climate Change Policy and Climate Change Action Plan 2023–26 outline a comprehensive regulatory approach and set of actions to address the causes and consequences of climate change in NSW.
We are developing a phased regulatory approach to reduce fugitive methane emissions released by our licensed community. Actions we are taking or have taken include:
- working with experts to improve how fugitive methane emissions are measured, monitored, and independently and transparently verified.
- trialling new methane measurement and monitoring techniques with experts to support more accurate assessment and verification of methane emissions from licenced facilities.
- established a Climate Change Industry Advisory Group for the mining sector where fugitive methane is one of the focuses.
- working toward the target of halving food waste to landfill and achieving net zero emissions from organics to landfill by 2030 under the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041.
Stay up to date on Progress with our Climate Change Action Plan as we continue to take action to reduce fugitive methane emissions.
Major sources of fugitive methane emissions
Natural gas and coal seam gas
Methane is the main component of natural gas and coal seam gas. Fugitive methane emissions can occur from losses, leaks and other releases during the extraction, processing, transmission, storage and distribution of coal and natural gas.
Landfills and wastewater treatment
Fugitive methane is emitted during the decomposition of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. This process is called anaerobic decomposition. The breakdown of organic waste at landfills and wastewater treatment plants are sources of fugitive methane emissions.
Find out more about the Emissions impacts of landfilling food waste.
Agriculture
Methane is produced as a by-product of the digestive processes of ruminant animals (mainly cattle and sheep) and animal waste products. Majority of ruminant animals are raised in pastures with a smaller number raised in feedlots. EPA licences a small portion of the NSW agricultural sector, which includes feedlots.