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Methane Matters: Let’s Learn Why
What is methane? Methane is the main component of ânatural gas,â which is a significant source of heat and energy in the U.S. and globally. It is a colorless, odorless gas that is lighter than air and is chemically composed of one molecule of carbon and four molecules of hydrogen. Methane is generally stable but can be explosive if enough mixes with air. Because of its potential for combustion, natural gas utilities add scents to it as a safety feature. What does it do to our climate? Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Anthropogenic methane emissions are likely responsible for 0.5° C of warming since the industrial revolution. After carbon…
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The U.S. Rejoins the Paris Climate Agreement
On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, in one of his first acts as president, President Biden signed a letter to the United Nations recommitting the U.S. to the Paris climate agreement. The U.S. officially left the Paris agreement in November 2020. The onboarding will take 30 days, with the U.S. officially back in the pact on February 19, 2021. The U.S. remains the only country to have left the Paris agreement. The Paris agreement began in 2015 when 195 nations agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to combat climate change. Climate change is responsible for not only higher air temperatures, but also stronger storms, rising sea levels, drought,…
