why does methane have a high global warming potential
25 times. Methane GWP potency compared to carbon dioxide over a 100 year period. âMethane is a relatively potent greenhouse gas. Compared with carbon dioxide, it has a high global warming potential of 72 (calculated over a period of 20 years) or 25 (for a time period of 100 years).3 times. Methane has about 23 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide when it is released into the atmosphere. âMethane (CH4) . . . is the simplest hydrocarbon, and is the primary component of the natural gas that we burn for energy.