Methane emissions from fossil fuels in Australia are under-regulated and under-reported and are a serious threat to our climate targets (Renew Economy). Almost a quarter of all methane emissions are from the fossil fuel industry, the sector where reductions can be made easily and for the lowest cost.
But first, we need to know what methane is, where it comes from, and its impact on climate, so we can effectively lobby governments for change.
What is methane?
Methane is an odourless, flammable, colourless greenhouse gas that cannot be seen by the naked eye. The smell we associate with it is added during processing for our safety.
What’s in a name?
Methane (CH₄) is commonly known as ‘gas’ or ‘natural gas’. It is also called ‘conventional gas’ and ‘unconventional gas’, depending on where it comes from (see below).
Prior to shipping for export, methane is cooled to -1620C, at which temperature it liquifies, and is renamed liquid natural gas (LNG). When it is imported the liquid methane is warmed to a gas to be distributed on land via a pipeline network.
NOTE: Bottled gas for barbecues, etc. is liquid petroleum gas (LPG) – not methane. It is either propane or butane or a mixture of both. LPG is produced during natural gas processing and crude oil refining.
Where does methane come from?
Methane comes from:
- gas extraction from gas reservoirs (conventional gas) deep underground, and coal seams and shale deposits (unconventional gas),
- coal mines,
- cattle and sheep, mainly when they burp, but when they fart too,
- Organic waste in landfill.
Conventional gas migrates from its source rock until it is trapped in a reservoir, sometimes with petroleum. Drilling vertically through the cap rock allows the gas to flow out naturally with no fracking required.
Coal seam gas (CSG), shale gas and tight sands gas are unconventional gases. Drilling is vertical until it reaches the gas-bearing formation. Then, horizontal drilling can continue for several kilometres. The coal seam, shale or tight sands is fractured (fracked) to release more gas.
Methane leaks from gas pipelines, wells and other infrastructure. Despite this being well documented, leaks are largely untracked and unregulated. (Lock the Gate)
Coal mines
Coal mines release huge volumes of unregulated methane into the atmosphere. This is to provide a safe workplace for underground miners. Open cut mines release more methane the deeper and wider they are. This methane is harder to capture.
Currently, coal mines only estimate how much methane they vent directly into the atmosphere.
Livestock
Opportunities to reduce methane emissions from livestock are limited. Feed supplements are being used to reduce methane production in cattle. Cultivated or cell-based meats are also being developed in labs, and plant-based meat alternatives are available.
Organic waste
Organic waste in landfill releases methane into the atmosphere, but not if it is composted. Methane can be captured from large biowaste facilities to be processed into biomethane or biogas.
How much does methane contribute to the climate crisis?
After carbon dioxide, methane represents the second highest greenhouse gas by volume in the atmosphere (Lock the Gate). Over 20 years, methane is 85 times more powerful per tonne at warming the atmosphere than carbon dioxide (Climate Council). By the end of 100 years, it is still 28 times more powerful!
We need to cut methane emissions from fossil fuels by 75% by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5˚C. Failure to reduce emissions from the fossil fuel industry means that other sectors of the economy will need to pick up the burden.
See climateactiontracker.org for information on how Australia is tracking in terms of climate action.
How to detect methane?
As well as increasing greenhouse gas emissions, methane leaks are a safety hazard. Gas infrastructure can explode, with one Australian gas pipeline having exploded, or been engulfed in flames every year for the past 3 years!
Regular collection of reliable leakage data is required to protect landholders from explosions and to make gas companies and the government regulators accountable. Currently leaks are being detected by the public and reported to government regulators.
Satellite
Open Methane employs satellite observations and environmental modelling to produce an up-to-date picture of Australia’s methane emissions. It is a free, open-source platform for detecting, measuring and locating Australia’s methane emissions.
MethaneSAT was one of the most advanced methane tracking satellites in space, measuring methane emissions in oil and gas producing regions across the world. On Friday, June 20, the MethaneSAT mission operations lost contact with MethaneSAT. After pursuing all options to restore communications, it is likely not recoverable.
Drone
The Methane Sniffer Drone identifies and maps leaks in real-time. During flight it collects air samples from the ground through its laser-guided “terrain hugging” and patented “hozzle” system – a flexible hose with a weighted nozzle. It pumps the air samples to the onboard detector, measures the methane concentration and reports leak locations with 90% accuracy using GPS coordinates.
Cameras
A variety of specialised cameras can detect methane leaks from a safe distance, displaying invisible gases as clouds of smoke. They allow the operator to scan wide sections of infrastructure and access hard-to-reach areas.
Solutions
Federal Government
- Update our environment laws to include a climate trigger,
- Stop subsidies for coal and gas projects.
NSW Government
- improve the regulation of coal mine methane under NSW planning and environmental laws,
- make fossil fuel companies pay for climate damage with a polluter-pays principle, e.g. place a levy on emissions,
- refuse applications for explorations, expansions, extensions and new coal and gas mines (Lock the Gate),
- use best practice monitoring, measurement, reporting and verification,
- prohibit methane venting and non-emergency flaring,
- enforce regulations and approval conditions,
- audit and address methane from abandoned mines,
- require statutory decision makers to adhere to the Net Zero Act.
Local Councils
- Keep organic waste out of landfill, or compost it, or capture the methane.
Mining companies
- Reduce methane emissions from fossil fuels.
Individual Actions
- Use your voice and your vote! Stay educated and put pressure on Governments to enact these policies
- Separate your organic waste so that it goes through composting systems rather than to landfill.
- Lock the Gate plans to expose the gas industry’s underreported methane leaks by purchasing a Methane Sniffer Drone. You can chip in here.
Updated 2 July 2025