Take a look at this image from NASA. It is easy to recognize that the entire planet is covered in a layer of yellow-orange. That is methane.
At room temperature and standard pressure, methane is colorless and odorless. However, through satellites and continuous observational data from NASA, methane is enveloping the planet, with the orange hue illustrating this alarming situation.
The planet is covered in a yellow-orange layer. (Source: NASA).
To discuss the concerning impact of this gas, the International Energy Agency (IEA) succinctly states: methane is a major greenhouse gas driving climate change (leading to increased storms and extreme weather), causing air pollution, negatively affecting human health, and resulting in serious explosions.
While invisible, the impact of methane is tangible. So, can governments act in time to save the planet from methane?
The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku, Azerbaijan, which starts on November 11, 2024, is addressing this issue.
Recently, within the framework of COP29, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released a report “An Eye on Methane,” highlighting that government actions are insufficient to control methane emissions despite commitments made.
“An Eye on Methane” points out that only over 1% of governments and companies are taking action to prevent methane leaks worldwide.
UNEP’s report “An Eye on Methane” calls for immediate government action to reduce methane emissions. (Photo: UNEP).
Over the past two years, the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) has detected over 1,200 reports of significant methane emissions globally. This system was introduced by UNEP at COP27 (2022) in Egypt to provide satellite alerts about massive methane emissions.
More than 150 countries, accounting for over 50% of global anthropogenic methane emissions, have signed the Global Methane Commitment, introduced at COP26 in November 2021, aiming to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030. This goal could potentially lower warming by at least 0.2°C by 2050.
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA)
“The atmosphere has approximately 2.5 times more methane than pre-industrial times, and emissions have increased in recent years. Methane emissions from human activities are responsible for about 30% of global temperature rise since pre-industrial times” – Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, stated at a press conference during COP29.
Why does UNEP emphasize the importance of governments focusing more on reducing methane emissions? Because methane’s impact is more persistent and potent than CO2.
The Alarming Impact of Methane: Brief but Potent
The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that the latest Global Methane Budget (GMB) estimates global annual methane emissions at around 580 million tons. Of this, about 40% comes from natural sources (such as wetlands), while the remainder is due to human activities.
The energy sector – including oil, natural gas, coal, and biomass energy – accounts for more than one-third of methane emissions from human activities. Biomass energy, primarily from biomass use, contributed an additional 10 million tons of emissions. The IEA notes that this level has remained unchanged since 2019.
In 2023, the energy sector emitted nearly 130 million tons of methane, making it the second-largest emitting sector after agriculture.
Of the nearly 130 million tons of methane released into the atmosphere from fuel use, about 80 million tons come from the top 10 emitting countries. The United States, the largest emitter of methane from oil and gas activities, tops the list, followed by Russia, according to IEA data.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and a primary driver of climate change. (Photo: iStock).
Satellite data indicates that large methane emissions increased by over 50% in 2023 compared to 2022. More than 5 million tons were identified as resulting from significant fossil fuel leaks globally, including a major well explosion in Kazakhstan that began on June 9, 2023, and lasted over 200 days.
Methane lasts in the atmosphere for about 12 years, much shorter than the centuries-long lifespan of carbon dioxide (CO2). However, it absorbs much more energy during that time (one molecule of methane retains more heat than one molecule of CO2), making it a potent greenhouse gas and a primary driver of climate change. This is why rapidly and sustainably reducing methane emissions from the energy sector is crucial to keeping global warming below 1.5°C.
Additionally, methane contributes to air pollution by forming ground-level ozone, which is harmful to health. Leaks also pose explosion risks and other safety concerns.
We can see that the impact of methane emissions is directly felt in air quality, climate, and health. Therefore, reducing these harmful emissions is essential for improving both environmental health and public health.
As UNEP’s Executive Director noted, human-caused methane emissions are responsible for about 30% of the planet’s current warming. Scientists have clearly demonstrated: Reducing these emissions is the quickest and most cost-effective way to slow global warming in the near future – and is essential to prevent increasingly severe climate damage.
“An Eye on Methane”, presented at COP29, is seen as “timely” as global efforts to address methane emissions must shift from desire to action.
Although methane has previously been difficult to detect and measure, technologies and systems for managing methane emissions have emerged (notably UNEP’s MARS, which uses advanced satellite technology and artificial intelligence). Methane may be invisible, but it is not unobservable – and there is no longer any excuse for inaction.
The harmful impacts of methane on global warming and human health have made it a top priority at this year’s COP29 summit. And as leaders have stated, the time to act is NOW!
A 75% Reduction in Methane Emissions is Necessary
The world needs to cut methane emissions from fossil fuels by 75% by 2030 to meet the Paris Climate Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C.
The IEA estimates that achieving this target will require around $170 billion in expenditure. This amount is less than 5% of the revenue generated by the fossil fuel industry in 2023.
Additionally, the agency observed that methane emissions from fossil fuels could be reduced by about 50% by 2030 if companies and countries implement all timely policies and commitments regarding methane.
“Temperatures are rising rapidly and breaking records worldwide. Cooperation for a livable planet is more urgent than ever. Reducing methane emissions remains one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to achieve this” – Catherine Stewart, Canada’s Ambassador for Climate Change.
A positive sign is that the Global Methane Commitment (GMP) – introduced by the European Union and the United States at COP26 – has attracted 156 additional countries by September 2024 to join in voluntary actions to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
Achieving the GMP target will reduce methane emissions to levels consistent with the 1.5°C pathway while also providing significant benefits for human health and ecosystems, food security, and the global economy.
