Natural gas 'would not slow global warming'

Moving to natural gas will not have any impact on climate change, despite the potential reduction in emissions, it has been claimed.

A study by Tom Wigley, a senior research associate at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), revealed that while coal burning releases carbon dioxide, which warms the atmosphere, it also produces large amounts of sulfates and other particles that, although harmful to the environment, cool the planet by blocking incoming sunlight.

He added that the potential for methane leaks would also complicate the situation, as methane is particularly potent.

"Relying more on natural gas would reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, but it would do little to help solve the climate problem," explained Mr Wigley.

"It would be many decades before it would slow down global warming at all, and even then it would just be making a difference around the edges."

The report follows research by the Worldwatch Institute and the Deutsche Bank Climate Change Advisors which claimed that despite the risk of methane leaks, natural gas is still better than coal.