Should hydrogen be classified as a greenhouse gas and included in carbon management efforts?

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“The British consulting firm Fraser Nash published a report titled “Atmospheric Implications of Increased Hydrogen Use” (hereinafter referred to as the “Report”), which states that over a 100-year period, the greenhouse effect of one ton of hydrogen is 11 times that of one ton of carbon dioxide, with an uncertainty of ±5! Given that many companies still discharge hydrogen carelessly at present, for example, foreign liquid hydrogen refueling stations often directly discharge the hydrogen that cannot be unloaded (while domestic chemical plants generally burn it off!) ), HydroCloud Chain believes that the views expressed in this \"Report\" are of practical significance. The interpretation of the “Report” is as follows: The key points of the “Report” include: (1) The greenhouse effect caused by escaped hydrogen is 11 times that of an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide. (2) The greenhouse effect of hydrogen is indirect, primarily occurring by prolonging the lifespan of greenhouse gases such as methane. (3) Even in the worst-case scenario, the emission reduction benefits brought about by hydrogen far exceed the greenhouse effect it generates. The conclusion of the report is that hydrogen remains an environmentally friendly energy source, but care must be taken to avoid greenhouse effects caused by hydrogen leaks and improper discharge: (1) The greenhouse effect of hydrogen arises from its interaction with other gases (for example, it prolongs the lifespan of methane in the atmosphere, and methane has a greenhouse effect 86 times greater than that of carbon dioxide) ； (2) Most of the hydrogen that enters the atmosphere comes from leaks and purging, in limited quantities. Therefore, hydrogen remains an environmentally friendly energy source, but it is necessary to pay attention to leakage issues throughout its production, storage, and utilization processes, as well as to further control methane leaks. Hydro Cloud Chain believes that, compared to the IEA series of reports, this report is a basic and supplementary one. It focuses on the very important yet often overlooked question of whether \"hydrogen is truly clean\". The significance of the \"Report\" lies in the fact that, while advancing the large-scale use of hydrogen energy, it is necessary to pay attention to controlling leaks of hydrogen and methane in order to ensure effective emission reductions ； At the same time, hydrogen cannot be released casually; carbon emissions need to be managed precisely. ” 1. In simple terms, hydrogen itself does not have a greenhouse effect, but it slows down the degradation of methane, thereby increasing the accumulation of methane in the atmosphere; its greenhouse effect is much greater than that of carbon dioxide. So, in an era when efforts to reach carbon peak and achieve carbon neutrality are in full swing, should considerations regarding the production, storage, transportation, and use of hydrogen, as well as issues related to leaks and emergency emissions, be included in carbon neutrality management? 2. Hydrogen escape. Earth’s gravity holds hydrogen much less tightly than it holds water; gases such as hydrogen and helium can easily break free from Earth’s gravity and enter space, resulting in escape. With large-scale use of hydrogen, could there be a significant amount of hydrogen escaping, thereby affecting the hydrogen cycle and water cycle in the entire atmosphere?