Literature data on emissions of volatile hydrocarbons in production, processing, storage and distribution of coal, petroleum, natural, gas and biomass were analyzed. The next sources of methane emitters participate in total emission. The gas and oil branch participates in the world methane emission 14-18%, the coal mining in 11%, the municipal waste disposal in 9% and sewage and animal waste utilization in 14%. The largest emitters of volatile hydrocarbons in Poland are hard coal mines, waste disposals areas and gas and oil branch.