What greenhouse gas is a major contributor to global warming as levels rise?

Methane is a significant greenhouse gas that has a considerable impact on global warming. It is much more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, with a global warming potential that is over 25 times greater than that of carbon dioxide over a 100-year period.

Sources of methane emissions include agriculture (particularly from livestock digestion), landfills, and fossil fuel extraction. As levels of methane increase in the atmosphere, they enhance the greenhouse effect, leading to rising global temperatures. This makes methane a crucial gas to monitor and manage in efforts to combat climate change.

While nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone also play roles in atmospheric chemistry, methane's high potency as a greenhouse gas and its significant contributions to global warming make it a primary focus in discussions regarding climate change mitigation strategies.