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Global warming

High-Resolution Inventory of Methane Emissions From Rice Agriculture Reveals Global Hotspots

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Scientists from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have created a high-resolution inventory of methane emissions from rice agriculture using Landsat satellite data. The research reveals that rice agriculture is a major source of atmospheric methane, with China, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Thailand accounting for 78% of global total rice emissions. The study also found that national methane intensities vary greatly, ranging from 10 to 120 kg methane per ton of rice produced, with countries able to achieve low intensities through high-yield cultivars, upland rice agriculture, and improved water management.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Global Rice Paddy Inventory (GRPI) provides a high-resolution inventory of methane emissions from rice agriculture at 0.1° x 0.1° (10 x 10 km) spatial resolution and monthly resolution.
  • The study estimates that the global emission of methane from rice agriculture is 39.3 ± 4.7 Tg a-1 for 2022, which is higher than previous inventories that used outdated rice maps and IPCC-recommended emission factors.
  • The top five countries contributing to global rice emissions are China (8.2 ± 1.0 Tg a-1), India (6.5 ± 1.0 Tg a-1), Bangladesh (5.7 ± 1.2 Tg a-1), Vietnam (5.7 ± 1.0 Tg a-1), and Thailand (4.4 ± 0.9 Tg a-1).
  • The study found that national methane intensities vary greatly, ranging from 10 to 120 kg methane per ton of rice produced, with a global mean of 51 kg.
  • The research suggests that countries can achieve low methane intensities through high-yield cultivars, upland rice agriculture, water management, and organic matter management.

Statistics:

  • The global emission of methane from rice agriculture is estimated to be 39.3 ± 4.7 Tg a-1 for 2022.
  • China accounts for 8.2 ± 1.0 Tg a-1 of global rice emissions.
  • India accounts for 6.5 ± 1.0 Tg a-1 of global rice emissions.
  • Bangladesh accounts for 5.7 ± 1.2 Tg a-1 of global rice emissions.
  • Vietnam accounts for 5.7 ± 1.0 Tg a-1 of global rice emissions.
  • Thailand accounts for 4.4 ± 0.9 Tg a-1 of global rice emissions.

Sources:

  • Global Rice Paddy Inventory (GRPI): A High-Resolution Inventory of Methane Emissions From Rice Agriculture Based on Landsat Satellite Inundation Data. Earth's Future, 2025,13(4):n/a-n/a.
  • http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2328-4277 (Earth's Future journal website)
  • https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1029/2024EF005479 (free version of the journal article)

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