Methane cannot be seen or smelled, but it accelerates the climate crisis and can be released during the exploration, operation, closure, and abandonment of coal mines. Understanding what this gas is, why it traps much more heat than CO₂, and how it relates to mining helps reveal a problem that remains largely invisible in Colombia.

Methane contributes significantly to global warming, and coal mining in Colombia is part of this problem. Its emissions can occur during mine exploration, operation, closure, and post-closure, yet gaps remain in how they are measured and controlled. Accounting for all emission sources makes it possible to demand greater transparency, protect health, and move toward a