Methane is a strong absorber of infrared radiation from the Earth's surface, and therefore is an important greenhouse gas. According to recent estimates, atmospheric methane accounts for about 15 percent of the "radiative forcing" added to the atmosphere. Methane as a molecule contributes about 70 times more radiative forcing, by weight, than does carbon dioxide, but its short residence time of 8 to 12 years in the atmosphere, (about 5 percent that of carbon dioxide), means that reductions in methane emissions will have significant short-term benefits.