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The governor of California, Jerry Brown, has declared a state of emergency in response to a major gas leak that has forced thousands of people from their homes on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Since October huge quantities of methane gas have escaped from an underground gas storage facility, and people are suffering from nausea and other health problems. It is estimated that it will take at least another two months to stop the leak. Methane - the main component of natural gas - is many times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. What's going on? Tim O'Connor is with the Environmental Defence Fund in California: (Photo: Natural gas leak out of the former oil well in the hills north of Los Angeles) (Credit: EPA/ENVIROMENTAL DEFENSE FUND AND EARTHWORKS HANDOUT)
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