Permafrost thaw in peatlands leads to waterlogged conditions, a favourable environment for microbes producing methane (CH₄) and high CH₄ emissions. High CH₄ emissions in the initial decades following thaw are due to a vegetation community that produces suitable organic matter to fuel CH₄-producing microbes, along with warm and wet conditions. High CH₄ emissions after thaw persist for up to 100 years, after which environmental conditions are less favourable for microbes and high CH₄ emissions.