Landfills Are Hidden Climate Villains, Study Finds
Forget superhero movies—real-life aerial surveys just exposed a major environmental threat. Over half of U.S. landfills are leaking methane, a greenhouse gas 80x more potent than CO₂, according to a new Science journal study. 📉💨
Why It Matters
Landfills are the third-largest U.S. methane source, but they’ve been flying under the regulatory radar. The study, led by Carbon Mapper and NASA researchers, found:
52% of landfills had methane leaks vs. 1% in oil/gas sectors
Leaks often last months—way longer than industry spills
EPA estimates missed the mark by 40% 😳
Super-Emitters: The Silent Culprits
These leaks spew 100+ kg of methane per hour—enough to power 3.7 million homes annually if captured, per EPA data. \"Pinpointing these leaks is like finding low-hanging fruit for climate action\", says lead scientist Dan Cusworth. 🍃🔍
What’s Next?
With satellite tech advancing, regulators could soon track landfill emissions in real time. But for now, oil and gas remain policymakers’ main focus. Time to update the playbook? 🌐⚡
