[strommen]

The net effect is not even close to the same; it's far worse.

Methane is ~36x more potent as a greenhouse gas over a 100-year timespan. This includes the eventual decay to CO2.

[lisper]

Source?

Here's what I have:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_methane

"Methane has a large effect but for a relatively brief period, having an estimated lifetime of 9.1 years in the atmosphere..."

Either way, the conclusion is the same: better to leave it where it is.

[nonbel]

>"Source?"

I just searched "methane 36x more potent", here is a random result:

"CO2, by definition, has a GWP of 1... Methane (CH4) is estimated to have a GWP of 28–36 over 100 years" https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/understanding-global-warmin...

>"Either way, the conclusion is the same: better to leave it where it is."

So, you are in favor of the gas being released as methane then? Your reasoning is not clear.

EDIT:

To make it clear: Humans burning this gas for fuel leads to less greenhouse effect than would otherwise occur.