Top Methane Emitting Landfills 2025: India’s Sites Rank Among Global Hotspots
Spotlight on Methane: UCLA Report Identifies Global Emission Giants
A critical report titled “Spotlight on the Top 25 Methane Plumes in 2025: Landfills,” released by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), has used satellite technology to identify the world's most significant methane-emitting waste sites. The study emphasizes that landfills are now a primary target for rapid climate action.
India’s Global Ranking
The report analyzed nearly 3,000 methane plumes globally using advanced satellites like NASA EMIT and Carbon Mapper. Two Indian sites have been identified among the top 25 global emitters:
- Jawahar Nagar Landfill (Telangana): Ranked 4th globally, emitting approximately 5.9 tonnes of methane per hour.
- Kanjurmarg Landfill (Mumbai): Ranked 12th globally, with an emission rate of 4.9 tonnes per hour.
The Methane Threat
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, approximately 86 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) over a 20-year period. Landfills alone contribute about 20% of global methane emissions, largely due to the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste. Scientists warn that methane is responsible for over 45% of recent global warming trends.
For TNPSC and Environmental aspirants, this data is vital for the "Pollution and Environmental Degradation" module, highlighting the urgent need for integrated solid waste management and landfill gas capture systems.
