Global methane emissions are rising at an alarming rate, outpacing previous predictions and putting the world’s climate goals at serious risk. A new study published in Frontiers has revealed that methane emissions are increasing at the fastest pace in decades, with record levels reported in 2021 and 2022. This surge in methane, a potent greenhouse gas, threatens to accelerate global warming and exacerbate the climate crisis unless immediate action is taken.
Methane is responsible for roughly half of the global heating since preindustrial times. Unlike carbon dioxide (CO2), which has long been the primary focus of climate mitigation efforts, methane has often been overlooked. Yet, methane is 80 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2 during its first 20 years, making it a critical factor in short-term climate change.
The study, titled “The Methane Imperative,” underscores the urgent need to address this escalating crisis. It outlines three key actions that must be taken to curb methane emissions: reversing the current growth in emissions, aligning CO2 and methane mitigation strategies, and optimizing policies and technologies for methane abatement at global, national, and sectoral levels.
Drew Shindell, a climate scientist at Duke University and the study’s lead author, expressed deep concern over the findings. “The growth rate of methane is accelerating, which is worrisome,” Shindell stated. “Just in the last few years, we’ve had this huge dump of methane. It’s made the job of tackling anthropogenic warming all the more challenging.”
Since 2006, global methane emissions have risen sharply, with the 2020s seeing an annual increase of approximately 30 million tons more than the previous decade. The reasons for this surge are multifaceted, with major contributions from the fossil fuel industry, agriculture, and natural processes.
The fossil fuel industry, particularly through the drilling and processing of oil, gas, and coal, is a significant source of methane emissions. The boom in fracking has led to a proliferation of new gas projects, further intensifying methane release. Agriculture, too, plays a major role, with livestock, especially cattle, emitting large quantities of methane through digestion. Additionally, rice production contributes to methane emissions, albeit to a lesser extent.
Rising global temperatures are also exacerbating the problem by accelerating the decomposition of organic matter in wetlands, which releases additional methane into the atmosphere. This feedback loop of warming and methane release poses a serious threat to global efforts to combat climate change.
The health and environmental impacts of methane are far-reaching. Methane contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, a harmful pollutant that causes respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and premature deaths, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Ground-level ozone also damages crops, leading to reduced yields and threatening food security.
Despite the urgency, the world has been slow to address methane emissions. The 2021 Global Methane Pledge, spearheaded by the U.S. and the European Union, aims to reduce global methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030. While the initiative has garnered support from 155 countries, only 13 percent of global methane emissions are currently covered by existing policies, and just 2 percent of global climate finance is directed toward methane reduction efforts.
Shindell emphasized the importance of accelerating these efforts. “I don’t think that target is necessarily out of reach yet, but we have to redouble our efforts to get there,” he said. “Countries are leading with oil and gas regulations, but it’s a challenge to get rules in place, and when it comes to livestock, that’s just unpalatable to most governments. They just don’t want to touch it.”
One of the key advantages of focusing on methane is its shorter atmospheric lifetime compared to CO2. While CO2 can remain in the atmosphere for hundreds or even thousands of years, methane dissipates much more quickly. If all methane emissions were eliminated immediately, 90 percent of the methane currently in the atmosphere would be gone within 30 years. This makes methane reduction a powerful tool for rapidly reducing planetary warming.
“Methane is the strongest lever we can quickly pull to reduce warming between now and 2050,” Shindell explained. “There’s just such a rapid response to cutting it. We’ve already seen the planet warm so much that if we are to avoid worse impacts, we have to reduce methane. Reducing CO2 will protect our grandchildren—reducing methane will protect us now.”
The study’s authors also highlighted the importance of integrating methane reduction efforts with broader climate strategies. This includes optimizing policies and technologies to target the most effective areas for methane reduction, such as improving monitoring systems, reducing emissions from fossil fuel extraction, and developing sustainable agricultural practices.
Last week, the White House held a summit focused on cutting “super-pollutants” like methane. The summit outlined measures such as improved monitoring, including placing methane sensors on commercial aircraft.
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