Monthly methane emissions in Chinese mainland provinces from 2013–2022

Abstract

As the world’s largest source of methane emissions, accurately measuring and tracking China’s emissions across various sectors is essential for global climate change efforts. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is emitted from diverse anthropogenic and natural sources, many of which exhibit pronounced temporal variability. In particular, emissions from rice cultivation, energy use, and livestock management show strong seasonal patterns, yet high-frequency and spatially detailed methane emission inventories have been lacking. This study introduces the Monthly Methane Emission Inventory for China’s Provinces (MMCP), a comprehensive dataset covering the period from January 2013 to December 2022. The dataset includes emissions data from eight key sectors: coal mining, oil and gas systems, energy combustion, rice cultivation, livestock, solid waste, wastewater, and wetlands. By offering sector-specific and temporally resolved emission estimates, MMCP serves as a valuable resource for scientific research, policy evaluation, and emission mitigation planning. This inventory facilitates improved understanding of emission trends and supports more accurate modeling of atmospheric methane concentrations and climate feedbacks.