The largest sources of anthropogenic CH₄ emissions are agricultural activities contributing in 2009 with 70.4 %, waste (20.6 %), public power and district heating plants (3.2 %). The emission from agriculture derives from enteric fermentation and management of animal manure contributing with 49.2 % and 21.2 % of the national CH₄ emission excl LULUCF in 2009. The CH₄ emission from public power and district heating plants increased in the nineties, mainly 1992-1996, due to the increasing use of gas engines in the decentralised cogeneration plant sector. Up to 3 % of the natural gas in the gas engines is not combusted. The deregulation of the electricity market has made production of electricity in gas engines less favourable, therefore the fuel consumption has decreased and hence the CH₄ emission has decreased. Over the time-series from 1990 to 2009, the emission of CH₄ from enteric fermentation has decreased 12.0 % due to the decrease in the number of cattle. However, the emission from manure management has in the same period increased 25.8 % due to a change in traditional stable systems towards an increase in slurry-based stable systems. Altogether, the emission of CH₄ from the agriculture sector has decreased by 3.3 % from 1990 to 2009. The emission of CH₄ from solid waste disposal has decreased 6.4 % since 1990 due to an increase in the incineration of waste.

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