The important distinction is where the carbon comes from. If the methane comes from the ground, it's adding carbon to the carbon cycle. This is why we're in suc

The important distinction is where the carbon comes from. If the methane comes from the ground, it's adding carbon to the carbon cycle. This is why we're in such a pickle. If the carbon comes from the air, or trees, or anything that pulled it from the air recently, then the methane is just another form of the carbon already in our atmosphere. Yes, it's a potent greenhouse gas - but it isn't a permanent one. Methane is oxidised in the atmosphere into CO2 eventually.