"Methane Is Short-Lived in the Atmosphere but Leaves Long-Term Damage" Unlike carbon dioxide, which is relatively stable and by definition has a GWP value of one, methane is a live-fast, die-young greenhouse gas. Methane traps very large quantities of heat in the first decade after it is released in to the atmosphere, but quickly breaks down. After a decade, most emitted methane has reacted with ozone to form carbon dioxide and water. This carbon dioxide continues to heat the climate for hundreds or even thousands of years. "Emitting methane will always be worse than emitting the same quantity of carbon dioxide, no matter the time scale"