Lifecycle Emissions: The Full Picture

Natural gas has often been branded as “cleaner than coal.” That’s only partially true.

Lifecycle analysis (extraction → processing → transport → combustion) shows:

• CO₂ emissions from combustion: ~400–500 g CO₂ per kWh (about 50% less than coal).
• Methane leakage: Even a 2–3% leak rate during production can erase climate advantages. Methane is 84x more powerful than CO₂ over 20 years and 28–34x stronger over 100 years.
• Fracking: Intensifies methane leakage and contaminates water supplies.

Bottom line: The “cleaner” label is misleading when leaks and upstream impacts are factored in.

Public Health Impacts of Natural Gas

Competitors often highlight the human health costs—and for good reason:

• Indoor air pollution: Gas stoves emit nitrogen oxides (NOx), linked to asthma and respiratory illness. A 2022 study in Environmental Science & Technology estimated that 13% of U.S. childhood asthma cases are tied to gas stove exposure.
• Outdoor emissions: Drilling and flaring release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulates that worsen air quality.
• Water risks: Communities near fracking sites face higher risks of groundwater contamination.

These health dimensions are critical for readers and frequently overlooked in pro-gas narratives.