How methane threatens climate goals

Scientists and policymakers are urging aggressive action to reduce the production of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Nearly 160 nations have committed to reducing methane emission levels by 30% from 2020 levels by the end this decade.

The 2024 Global Methane Budget Report states that atmospheric methane has risen the fastest in the past five years since records began in 1970, largely due to natural sources.

Why it is important to control methane emissions

HEAT-TRAPPER POWER

The methane molecules trap heat more effectively than the carbon dioxide molecules (CO2). This means that fewer of these molecules can cause the same level of warming. Reducing them will have an immediate impact than reducing CO2.

It is also financially logical to tackle methane. United Nations analyses found that cutting methane emission is cheaper than reducing CO2 for the same climate benefit.

Methane, on the other hand, breaks down in about a year. This means it has a less long-term effect on temperatures.

Scientists compare methane and CO2 emissions over the course of a century. They calculate that methane is 28 times more harmful than CO2 in terms of global warming.

Methane, on the other hand, is 80 times more harmful over a 20-year period.

Methane is responsible for a warming of around 0.5 C, which is about one third of the 1.3 C that has been experienced since pre-industrial time.

SURGING EMISSIONS

According to the Global Methane Budget 2024, human activities are responsible for at least two thirds of global emissions. This includes agriculture, including livestock and rice farming, as well as fossil fuel activities and landfills.

The report, which is published every five-years, shows that methane emissions have increased by 20 percent in the last twenty years. According to FAIRR, a food-focused investor initiative, the majority of methane mitigation measures are being undertaken in the oil and gas industry, where emissions are easier than those found in agriculture.

Natural Resources - A Concern

Natural sources, such as the thawing of permafrost and peat bogs, and rising temperatures could cause emissions to increase rapidly.

Methane can also be produced by animals, including humans.

It is simple to measure atmospheric methane. However, understanding its source is essential for solving the problem.

Scientists can determine if the methane gas is from industrial or biological sources by analyzing the different isotopes. (Reporting and editing by Katigle Daigle, Barbara Lewis, and Gloria Dickie)

(source: Reuters)