Methane problems

The Global Methane Commitment, set in 2021, aims to reduce emissions of this dangerous gas by 30% by the end of the decade. This will give us vital time to work on reducing carbon emissions. More than 150 countries have signed the pledge.

To make these dreams a reality, many leaders have announced policies to reduce methane emissions, but recent studies show that global emissions continue to rise rapidly. Methane concentration in the atmosphere is now increasing faster than ever Since global observations began nearly 40 years ago.

Natural sources of methane include decomposing organic matter in wetlands. But humans have increased emissions significantly. Scientists tracked changes in all the major sources and sinks of this potent greenhouse gas and found: Humans are now responsible for two-thirds or more of global emissions.

It’s a problem, but we can solve it. Reducing methane emissions is one of the best short-term tools we can use to slow climate change.
– says the research conducted within the framework of the Global Carbon Project with the participation of 66 research institutes from all over the world.

What you need to know about methane

Methane is the most potent greenhouse gas causing human-induced global warming after carbon dioxide.

Although much less methane is released than carbon dioxide as a result of human activity, methane has a hidden advantage: It is 80 times more efficient than CO₂keeps warm for the first twenty years after entering the atmosphere.

In the atmosphere, methane quickly mixes with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water. Carbon dioxide, by contrast, is a much more stable molecule and will remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years, trapping heat, until it is absorbed by oceans and plants.

The combination of short lifespan and extreme potency makes methane a perfect candidate for rapidly combating climate change.

Methane isn’t slowing down

The rate of increase in methane emissions slowed in the early and mid-2000s. Analysis showed that this was due to a combination of reduced fossil fuel emissions and chemical changes in the atmosphere’s ability to break down methane.

But since then, the amount of methane has increased significantly. Emissions from human activities increased by 50-60 million tons per year, or 15-20%, over the two decades to 2018-2020. This does not mean that atmospheric methane has increased by the same amount, because it is constantly being broken down.

In the 2000s, an additional 6.1 million tonnes of methane entered the atmosphere each year. In the 2010s, the growth rate was 20.9 million tonnes. In 2020, the growth reached 42 million tonnes. Since then, methane has been added even faster. The growth rate is now higher than any previous year on record.

Where does methane come from?

Human activities such as animal husbandry, coal mining, natural gas extraction and processing, rice cultivation in paddy fields, and disposal of organic waste in landfills account for about 65% of all methane emissions, of which 40% is from agriculture (livestock and rice fields), 36% from fossil fuels, and 17% from landfills and wastewater.

Landfills produce methane because organic matter decomposes in large quantities in these places / Photo: Unsplash

Methane emissions from fossil fuels are now comparable to emissions from livestock farming, with emissions from landfills and fossil fuels (such as natural gas from mining and processing) growing fastest.

Our impact is even greater when we consider indirect emissions, such as the leaching of organic matter into waterways and wetlands, the construction of reservoirs, and the impact of anthropogenic climate change on wetlands.

The remaining emissions come from natural sources, primarily decomposition of vegetation in wetlands, rivers, lakes and saturated soils. Tropical wetlands are particularly strong sources of emissions.

Large areas of permafrost (permanently frozen soil) around the world also produce methane, but in relatively small amounts. This changes as permafrost melts under the influence of higher temperatures, and volumes increase.

Regional contributions and trends

Who throws away the most?

• China (16%), India (9%), the USA (7%), Brazil (6%) and Russia (5%) are among the top five emitters in 2020.
• The fastest growing regions are China, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
• European countries have begun reducing their emissions over the past two decades, through efforts to reduce emissions from landfills and waste, followed by smaller reductions in emissions from fossil fuels and agriculture.
• Australia can also reduce emissions through agriculture and waste.

What can we do?

Uncontrolled methane emissions are bad news. Recent observations of methane concentrations in the atmosphere are consistent with climate scenarios that project 3 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100.

The goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement, to keep global temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius, means reducing methane emissions as quickly as possible. To achieve this goal, emissions need to be cut by almost half (45%) by 2050. This is not an impossible task. We now have the means to rapidly reduce methane emissions across every sector.

• According to the International Energy Agency, the oil and gas sector could reduce its emissions by 40% at no cost.
• In agriculture, we can achieve rapid reductions by using feed additives to reduce methane production in cows, sheep, goats and buffalos, and by mid-season drainage in paddy fields.
• It is already well known that methane can be captured from landfills and used to produce energy or heat.