Per Capita Methane Emissions by Sector
Data, Graphs, and Maps
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences, Mathematics
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Our World in Data
What it is
- This interactive resource provides students with the opportunity to explore the per capita sources of methane emissions globally or for specific countries.
- The data begins in 1990 and is broken out by sector.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This resource clearly shows students where most methane emissions on a per capita basis come from and how they have changed over time.
Prerequisites
- Students should know how to read a line graph and be familiar with the term fugitive emissions.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Cross-curricular connections can be made with social studies and chemistry classes.
- Students may want to explore the topic further with these resources: Methane Emissions, Natural Gas: Water and Climate Impacts, How to Change Your Diet to Fight Climate Change, and The Environmental Impacts of Food Data Explorer.
- Note that the methane emissions are calculated on a 100-year CO2 equivalency scale, so the 20-year values would be significantly higher due to methane's short (10-12 years) residence time in the atmosphere.
From the scientist review
The resource used GWP method to normalize these F gases units into a single unit expressed in CO2e calculated on a 100 year time scale. This method is appropriate as it considered the residence time of CH4 - CO2 emissions per capita. Recommended for teaching.
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