is methane the same as natural gas?
Methane: In the shale gas debate, commentators sometimes make a distinction between natural gas and methane. In fact, as the chart above demonstrates, natural gas mostly is methane. When itâs released directly in the atmosphere â rather than being burnt â methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. It is approximately 25 times more climate-polluting than carbon dioxide over a 100-year timescale.
Natural gas. 1  Consists mainly of methane. The large proportion of methane is one of the reasons natural gas has such a good safety record. 2  Methane is lighter than air and will disperse relatively easily if there is a gas leak.