Greta Jimenez
Natural gas is often touted as a clean energy source, but it is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change and air and water pollution. The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, increasing CO2 levels, trapping heat, and contributing to global climate change. While natural gas emits fewer toxic air pollutants, less carbon dioxide, and almost no particulate matter compared to other fossil fuels like coal and petroleum, it still emits large amounts of carbon in the form of CO2 and methane. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that leaks during the extraction and transport of natural gas, and its emissions have spiked dramatically since 2002 due to the boom in natural gas extraction. Natural gas development also impacts vulnerable communities, as processing plants are often built near low-income and BIPOC areas, exposing residents to hazardous air pollutants and increased health risks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Natural gas is a fossil fuel | Yes |
| Natural gas is a polluting agent | Yes |
| Natural gas is marketed as a clean energy source | Yes |
| Burning natural gas releases carbon dioxide | Yes |
| Natural gas emits methane | Yes |
| Methane is a potent greenhouse gas | Yes |
| Natural gas contributes to climate change | Yes |
| Natural gas causes air pollution | Yes |
| Natural gas causes water pollution | Yes |
| Natural gas extraction uses large amounts of water | Yes |
| Natural gas extraction can cause earthquakes | Yes |
| Natural gas extraction can cause groundwater contamination | Yes |
| Natural gas infrastructure is built near vulnerable communities | Yes |
| Natural gas is a growing energy source | Yes |
| Natural gas emits fewer toxic air pollutants than other fossil fuels | Yes |
| Natural gas emits less carbon dioxide than other fossil fuels | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
- Natural gas is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change
- Burning natural gas releases carbon dioxide, increasing CO2 levels
- Methane leaks during extraction and transport of natural gas
- Air pollution is a side-effect of fossil fuel use, impacting local populations
- Water pollution is another effect of fossil fuel use, impacting human health
Natural gas is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change
Natural gas is often marketed as a clean energy source. However, it is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change and pollutes our air and water. Natural gas is a highly polluting fossil fuel. The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, increasing CO2 levels, trapping heat, and contributing to global climate change. While natural gas is a cleaner burning resource than coal and liquid petroleum, it still emits a large amount of carbon into the atmosphere in the form of both CO2 and methane. CO2 is released during combustion, the process used to generate electricity.
Methane is the main constituent of natural gas, and it is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Methane is leaked in large quantities during the extraction and transport of natural gas. Studies show that global methane emissions have spiked dramatically since 2002, mostly due to the boom in natural gas extraction. Methane emissions from natural gas and petroleum systems and abandoned oil and gas wells were the source of about 33% of total US emissions in 2021.
Cooking with natural gas also contributes to poor indoor air quality and can lead to severe respiratory diseases such as asthma. Additionally, natural gas extraction produces radioactive isotopes of polonium, lead, and radon, which pose unique health and safety challenges for the workforce.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a dangerous practice used to extract natural gas from wells. It requires large amounts of water, and the resulting wastewater can contain dissolved chemicals and contaminants that require proper treatment before disposal or reuse. Improper handling of wastewater can lead to groundwater contamination and increase the risk of earthquakes in the surrounding area.
Overall, while natural gas may be cleaner than some other fossil fuels, it is still a significant contributor to climate change and has various negative environmental and health impacts.
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Burning natural gas releases carbon dioxide, increasing CO2 levels
Natural gas is often marketed as a clean energy source. However, it is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change and air pollution. Burning natural gas releases carbon dioxide, increasing CO2 levels in the atmosphere. This process of combustion is used to generate electricity. While natural gas produces less carbon dioxide compared to coal and liquid petroleum, it still emits a large amount of carbon. For instance, for every 1 million BTU consumed (burned), coal produces over 200 pounds of CO2, while natural gas produces 160 pounds.
Natural gas is primarily methane (CH4), which has a higher energy content relative to other fuels, and thus, it has a relatively lower CO2-to-energy content. However, methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with a warming potential 84-87 times that of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Leaked methane from natural gas facilities and during its extraction and transport can cancel out any reduction in CO2 emissions from burning less coal.
The environmental impact of natural gas extraction also contributes to water pollution and increases the risk of earthquakes. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, uses large amounts of water, and the resulting wastewater can contain dissolved chemicals and contaminants. Improper handling of wastewater can lead to groundwater contamination and put people and buildings at risk.
While burning natural gas releases less carbon dioxide than some other fossil fuels, it still contributes to increasing CO2 levels in the atmosphere, and the associated methane emissions further exacerbate its environmental impact.
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Methane leaks during extraction and transport of natural gas
Natural gas is often marketed as a clean energy source. However, it is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change and air and water pollution. The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, increasing CO2 levels, trapping heat, and contributing to global climate change.
One of the main issues with natural gas is the release of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, during its extraction and transportation. Methane leaks during the extraction and transportation of natural gas can occur due to equipment failures and old infrastructure. These leaks have been taking place at oil and gas fields worldwide, and the gas is released into the atmosphere. Methane is about 28 to 87 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of its warming impact on the climate over a 20-year period.
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) found that 3.7% of natural gas produced in the Permian Basin, a significant oil and gas region in the US, leaked into the atmosphere. This is much higher than the EPA estimate of 1.4%. The Permian Basin now accounts for about 30% of US oil production and 10% of the country's gas output. This high rate of methane emissions erodes the greenhouse gas reductions achieved when power companies switch from coal to natural gas.
Another study of gas and oil resources in northeastern British Columbia found that at least one in ten wells are losing methane. Natural gas production in this region has doubled between 2006 and 2017 due to hydraulic fracturing ("fracking"). The study found that the gas leaks were mostly small, but 15 wells leaked up to 300 times more methane.
Methane leaks during the extraction and transportation of natural gas have significant implications for the climate and human health. These leaks contribute to global warming and can also pose health risks to nearby communities. The release of methane and other pollutants during natural gas extraction and transportation undermines its credentials as a cleaner alternative to other fossil fuels.
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Air pollution is a side-effect of fossil fuel use, impacting local populations
Natural gas is often marketed as a clean energy source. However, it is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change and air and water pollution. The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, increasing CO2 levels, trapping heat, and contributing to global climate change. Natural gas is a cleaner-burning resource than coal and liquid petroleum, emitting less carbon dioxide per unit of energy. However, it still emits a large amount of carbon into the atmosphere in the form of CO2 and methane.
Methane is the main constituent of natural gas and is a powerful greenhouse gas, about 84-87 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Leaked methane cancels out any reduction in CO2 emissions achieved by replacing coal with natural gas. Studies have shown that global methane emissions have spiked dramatically since 2002, largely due to the boom in natural gas extraction. Methane leaks occur during the extraction and transport of natural gas.
Air pollution is a significant side effect of fossil fuel use, impacting local populations and ecosystems. When natural gas leaks at extraction sites, pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted into the atmosphere. VOCs react to form ground-level ozone, or smog, which can cause respiratory and cardiovascular issues, especially in vulnerable populations such as the elderly, young children, and people with asthma. Diesel fumes from trucks, machinery, and gas leaks on drill sites pose hazards to workers and nearby residents. People living near areas of high oil and gas activity are at an increased risk for chronic illnesses and cancer.
In addition to air pollution, water pollution is another localized effect of fossil fuel use, particularly natural gas extraction. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, uses a significant amount of water and can contaminate groundwater with wastewater. Improper disposal of wastewater by injecting it underground has been linked to earthquakes in the surrounding areas, further endangering local populations.
The combustion of fossil fuels, including natural gas, has detrimental health impacts, especially on children and vulnerable populations. Exposure to fine particulate matter, or PM 2.5, from burning fossil fuels has been linked to preterm birth, low birth weight, and various health issues in children, including respiratory illnesses and cognitive and behavioral development impairments. Fossil fuel air pollution is responsible for a significant number of deaths worldwide, with recent studies estimating it at about one in every five deaths, or 8.7 million deaths globally in 2018.
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Water pollution is another effect of fossil fuel use, impacting human health
Natural gas is often marketed as a clean energy source. However, it is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change and pollutes the air and water. While burning natural gas produces fewer air pollutants than burning coal or petroleum, it still emits large amounts of carbon in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane.
Fracking can also cause earthquakes in the surrounding area, increasing the potential for groundwater contamination with wastewater. In addition, the large amounts of water used in fracking can stress local species when the warm water is returned to nearby ecosystems.
Another way that fossil fuels contribute to water pollution is through oil spills. Oil spills can cause harmful algal blooms that reduce water oxygen levels, harming fish populations and other wildlife. Furthermore, the burning of fossil fuels releases nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, contributing to the formation of smog and acid rain. Acid rain can contaminate freshwater sources, increasing chemical weathering of rocks and man-made structures.
Overall, water pollution caused by fossil fuel use poses significant risks to human health and the environment, underscoring the need for alternative energy sources and proper wastewater treatment and disposal practices.
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Frequently asked questions
No, natural gas is not non-polluting. It is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change and air and water pollution.
Natural gas emits fewer toxic air pollutants and less carbon dioxide than other fossil fuels like coal and oil. However, it still emits a large amount of carbon dioxide and methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Gas leaks at every stage of its journey—from extraction to transportation, power plants, and end-use—release methane into the atmosphere.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, uses a significant amount of water and can contaminate groundwater with wastewater. Fracking chemicals, radioactive materials, heavy metals, and salts can pollute the water cycle.
Exposure to air pollutants from natural gas drilling and development can lead to adverse health outcomes, including respiratory symptoms, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Young children are particularly vulnerable to the neurological effects of these pollutants.
The burning of natural gas releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to increased CO2 levels, trapping heat, and driving climate change. Methane emissions from natural gas facilities and leaks during transportation also have a significant warming effect.
