Methane (CH₄) is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential (GWP) 86 times that of Carbon Dioxide. It is responsible for a 20 per cent increase in the global temperature.

And it’s concentration in the atmosphere is fast rising. In fact, according to the Global Methane Budget published in Earth System Science Data, methane levels are currently rising 10 times faster than in the period between 2000 to 2006. The sharpest rise was witnessed in 2014-15. The global data was compiled by Marielle Saunois of Laboratoire des Sciences du climat et de l’environnement, France in coordination with the Global Carbon Project.

Studies have not been able to pin point any one major source of methane emission. Recent studies on methane emissions find that hydropower dams, cow flatulence (yes, you read that right) to flooded rice fields are to blame.

However, food production remains one of the main suspects.

“We think the increase in food production globally has led to the increase in emissions, which has contributed to the higher concentration of methane in the atmosphere,” Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation researcher and executive director of Global Carbon Project, Pep Canadell said.