India’s livestock methane emissions may be significantly lower than widely cited global estimates, according to scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, who argue that standard international methodologies overstate emissions by failing to account for the country’s diverse feeding systems and low-intensity farming practices.
Methane, the second-most abundant greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, is about 28 times more potent in terms of global warming potential. Globally, livestock are estimated to emit 90–100 teragrams (Tg) of methane annually through enteric fermentation a natural digestive process in ruminants. Agriculture accounts for roughly 37% of total methane emissions worldwide.
However, researchers PK Malik and Raghavendra Bhatta contend that India’s share of livestock methane has been exaggerated due to reliance on generic models prescribed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The IPCC employs a three-tier methodology for estimating emissions. Tier I uses default emission factors multiplied by livestock population data, while Tier II incorporates standardised values for energy intake and methane conversion efficiency.
According to the authors, both approaches rely heavily on default factors derived from high-input livestock systems in developed countries where animals are bred for high productivity and fed energy-dense diets under intensive management.
In contrast, Indian livestock are typically raised under low-input systems, often fed high-fibre crop residues such as sorghum kadbi and paddy straw, and managed under variable regional and seasonal conditions. Applying global default values without accounting for these differences can lead to inflated emission estimates.
Studies conducted under ICAR indicate that methane emissions from high-fibre Indian diets were approximately 34% lower than estimates generated using IPCC Tier II default models when actual feed energy intake and methane conversion factors were applied.
The ICAR database estimates India’s annual enteric methane emissions at about 9.25 Tg, compared to figures as high as 14 Tg reported by studies relying solely on IPCC methodologies.
Researchers argue that accurate measurement is essential not only for fair international climate reporting but also for designing effective mitigation strategies. More than 50 Indian studies using direct measurement techniques including the sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer method, respiration chambers and Green Feed systems have already generated diet-specific emission data.
Developing region-specific emission factors, the authors say, would enable India to track methane reductions more precisely and potentially unlock carbon credit opportunities for dairy farmers. Verified emission reductions could be converted into tradable carbon credits, offering additional income streams to rural households.
The study underscores a broader policy message: climate accountability must reflect agricultural diversity and production realities. Without country-specific data, researchers warn, developing nations risk being unfairly blamed for emissions calculated using models that do not mirror their ground conditions.
The article was first published in State of India’s Environment 2026 and reflects the authors’ views.