What’s the Deal with Methane?
Provided by: The Kid Should See This|Published on: June 25, 2026|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6-AP
Type: Videos
Subjects: Chemistry, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: UN Environment Programme
Location: Earth
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This 2-minute video explains what methane is, the major human sources of methane, and why reducing it matters for climate change.
- Students learn about key differences between methane and carbon dioxide as greenhouse gases and understand why targeting methane can quickly mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Teaching Materials
Prerequisites:
- Students should already know that carbon dioxide emissions enhance the greenhouse effect, causing climate change.
Classroom Implementation:
- Use this short video to introduce other greenhouse gases when teaching the causes of climate change, then have students compare methane and carbon dioxide in terms of source, heat-trapping strength, and how long each remains in the atmosphere.
- After viewing, ask students to map the three major human sources of methane (energy, agriculture, and waste) to actions individuals, communities, or governments could take to reduce emissions from each.
- Too deepen students' understanding of chemical properties, discuss how carbon dioxide and methane's molecular structures play a role in their potency and lifespan.
Extensions:
- Use this article to dive deeper into the Paris Agreement and nationally determined contributions (NDCs), as mentioned at the end of the video.
- Have students explore methane emissions data by sector using this interactive graph.
- Have students use evidence from the video to construct a claim about why reducing methane is often described as a comparatively fast and cost-effective climate strategy.
This resource is a concise primer to the potent greenhouse gas methane. Rather than simply focusing on the problem, the video clearly details a number of interventions to reduce global methane emissions. This resource is grounded in rigorous climate science and is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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