Methane emissions have hit a new high, according to a recent study by the Global Carbon Project, published on September 10 in Environmental Research Letters. This increase is concerning given methane’s significant impact on global warming, being over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO₂) over a 20-year period.
Despite global pledges to reduce methane emissions, the study highlights a troubling trend: methane levels are rising at an accelerating pace. This is particularly alarming because methane, while having a shorter atmospheric lifespan of about a decade compared to CO₂’s 300 to 1,000 years, is a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes substantially to global warming.
Current Situation In the 2010s, methane was responsible for approximately 0.5°C (32.9°F) of the global temperature increase compared to the late 1980s. The study reveals that methane concentrations are now 2.6 times higher than pre-industrial levels. The record for methane emissions set in 2020, with 400 million tons released, has continued to rise through 2023, signaling a dire situation.
Promises vs. Results During the COP26 summit in Glasgow in 2021, over 100 countries pledged to cut methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels through the “Global Methane Pledge.” However, the current trajectory of methane emissions aligns with the most pessimistic climate scenarios, which predict a global temperature rise of more than 3°C (37°F) by the century’s end.
Rob Jackson, a researcher at Stanford University and lead author of the study, expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of these targets. “The reduction targets seem as distant as an oasis in the desert,” Jackson said. “We all hope they’re not just a mirage.”
Sources of Emissions Human activities contribute to about two-thirds of global methane emissions, primarily through agriculture, waste management, and the fossil fuel industry. The study identifies China, India, the United States, Brazil, and Russia as the largest contributors to methane emissions. In contrast, only European nations and potentially Australia have managed to reduce their methane emissions in the past two decades.
Moving Forward There is a glimmer of hope in recent developments. On September 6, Beijing and Washington announced plans to jointly prepare a summit on greenhouse gases, including methane. This collaborative effort could potentially drive further action and policy changes aimed at mitigating methane emissions.
The study underscores the urgent need for effective and sustained action to address methane emissions, which play a critical role in climate change and the health of our planet.
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