Atmospheric methane
Atmospheric methane has reached about 1,938 ppb (May 2026) — up roughly 19.2% since global monitoring began in 1983.
Source: NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory. Data through May 2026. Download the data (JSON).
About this indicator
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas — far stronger than CO₂ over the short term, though it breaks down within a couple of decades. It comes from wetlands, agriculture (especially livestock and rice), landfills, and oil and gas operations.
After a brief plateau around 2000, atmospheric methane has been rising again, with an unusually sharp increase in recent years that scientists are still working to fully explain.
Why it matters: Because methane traps heat so effectively, cutting methane emissions is one of the fastest ways to slow warming in the near term.