Methane (CH4) the chief component, actually, has a global warming potential (GWP) in the first 20 years of release into the atmosphere, according to the EPA, of 81 to 83. This means Methane is 81-83 times as powerful a greenhouse gas as carbon dioxide (CO2) in its first 20 years of release into the atmosphere. (That GWP decreases to 27-30 in a 100 year time frame, but that is still significantly higher than carbon dioxide) The big take away should be that Methane is extremely dangerous as a greenhouse gas in the first twenty years in the atmosphere – the exact time when we need to make the most progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.