What human activity is a primary contributor to increased methane emissions?

Agricultural practices are a primary contributor to increased methane emissions because of several specific activities associated with farming and livestock management. One of the main sources of methane in agriculture is enteric fermentation, which occurs during the digestion process in ruminant animals like cattle and sheep. As these animals digest their food, methane is produced and released during burping.

Additionally, the cultivation of rice paddies also contributes significantly to methane emissions, as anaerobic conditions in flooded fields create an environment conducive to methane-producing bacteria. Organic waste management on farms, such as manure decomposition, further adds to the emissions. Consequently, the agricultural sector plays a crucial role in the release of methane into the atmosphere, significantly impacting greenhouse gas levels and climate change.

Forest conservation, email usage in companies, and urban planning are not significant sources of methane emissions. Forest conservation can potentially help sequester carbon and mitigate emissions, while email usage is essentially carbon neutral in terms of greenhouse gas output. Urban planning, although it can influence overall emissions through transportation and infrastructure, does not directly produce methane in the same manner as the specified agricultural practices.