Natural landscapes are considered one of the main sources of human methane emissions into the atmosphere.
Introduction
The annual United Nations climate summit, known as COP28, is a major topic in the headlines this year. This is not something I would have written about a few years ago. The growing interest in COP is due to an increasing sense of urgency to take stronger actions to reduce human fossil fuel emissions and mitigate the upcoming climate crisis. The world is not on track to meet the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions enough to limit global warming to “below” 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial averages by 2100. Meanwhile, 2023 has been the hottest year on record, with people suffering from a series of extreme weather events, including heatwaves, droughts, and floods, and 2024 is likely to break more temperature records.
Methane and Climate Change
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to warming the climate, with a warming capacity in the atmosphere up to 80 times greater than carbon dioxide. However, methane only lasts in the atmosphere for about one decade, while carbon dioxide can persist for up to 1,000 years. Reducing methane emissions can lead to a relatively rapid decrease in its concentration in the atmosphere.
Global Commitments to Cut Methane Emissions
Many current methane emissions in the atmosphere come from human activities, including agriculture, dairy livestock, and waste disposal sites. Agriculture and dairy livestock are at the forefront as the largest source of human methane emissions, while waste disposal sites rank second. Hence, the commitment of countries worldwide to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030 through the “Global Methane Pledge” arises as a solution to reduce human methane emissions. This pledge was launched in 2021 by the United States and the European Union, and so far, 150 countries have signed on. Recently, Turkmenistan, which faces high methane emissions, joined the pledge. Therefore, there is hope that if everyone joins, it is indeed possible to significantly reduce global methane emissions, bringing us closer to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Rising Natural Methane Emissions
There is an urgent need to close the gaps as soon as possible due to the sharp increase in natural methane emissions into the atmosphere. It is still unclear why this rise is happening, but it appears to be linked to climate change, possibly related to changes in temperature and precipitation. This increase in natural methane emissions was not something that the designers of the Paris Agreement anticipated. Most of this rise has occurred since the agreement was signed. From 1999 to 2006, atmospheric methane spent several years in an almost balanced state – elevated due to human activities but relatively stable. Then, in 2007, atmospheric methane concentrations began to rise. In 2013, there was a sharp increase, and again in 2020.
Challenges and Hopes
There are many challenges facing efforts to reduce methane emissions, including the fact that many of the largest methane emitters have not signed the Global Methane Pledge. Nevertheless, there is hope for achieving those targets by 2030. It is also vital to address leaks in oil and gas industry infrastructure. Although there are accusations that this pledge may just be greenwashing, it is essential to deal with these leaks. At the same time, scientists must rush to understand what is happening with the increase in natural methane emissions and how to link it to climate change. Meanwhile, humans must reduce methane emissions as much as possible and as quickly as they can. “It’s very simple. When you’re in a hole, stop digging.”
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