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EPA underestimates methane emissions from landfills and urban areas, researchers find

Summary

A study led by researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences reveals that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is significantly underestimating methane emissions from landfills, urban areas, and several U.S. states. Utilizing 2019 satellite observations combined with atmospheric transport modeling, the researchers found that methane emissions from landfills were 51% higher, urban areas were 39% higher, and the top methane-producing states were 27% higher than EPA estimates. The discrepancies highlight the need for more accurate methane emission quantification, considering methane's significant contribution to climate change. The study, published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, calls for improved emission inventories and monitoring efforts to address this critical environmental issue.

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