Reduce human-caused methane emissions by 45% to avoid worst of climate change: UN

Human-caused methane emissions must be cut by 45 per cent to avoid the worst effects of climate change, as per a new United Nations report.

• Human-caused methane emissions are increasing faster currently than at any other time since record keeping began in the 1980s.
• Carbon dioxide levels have dropped during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
• However, methane in the atmosphere reached record levels last year, according to the data from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
• The report said this was a cause of concern as methane was an extremely powerful greenhouse gas.
• It was responsible for about 30 per cent of warming since pre-industrial times.

• 45 per cent cut would prevent a rise in global warming by up to 0.3 degrees Celsius by 2045.
• It would also prevent 260,000 premature deaths, 775,000 asthma-related hospital visits annually, as well as 25 million tonnes of crop losses.
• Cutting methane emissions can rapidly reduce the rate of warming in the near-term as the gas broke down quickly.

The most human-caused methane emissions came from three sectors: Fossil fuels, waste and agriculture.

• Oil extraction: Oil and gas extraction, processing and distribution accounted for 23 per cent of methane emissions in the fossil fuel sector.
• Coal mining: Coal mining accounted for 12 per cent of emissions.
• Landfills and wastewater: Landfills and wastewater made up about 20 per cent of emissions in the waste sector. 
• Livestock emission: In the agricultural sector, livestock emissions from manure and enteric fermentation constituted for roughly 32 per cent and rice cultivation eight per cent of emissions.

The assessment found that the mitigation potential varied between countries and regions.

• Europe: Europe had the greatest potential to curb methane emissions from farming, fossil fuel operations and waste management.
• India: India had the greatest potential to reduce methane emissions in the waste sector.
• China & Africa: China’s mitigation potential was best in coal production and livestock, while Africa’s was in livestock, followed by oil and gas.
  • The fossil fuel industry had the greatest potential for low-cost methane cuts. According to the report, up to 80 per cent of measures in the oil and gas industry could be implemented at negative or low cost.
  • About 60 per cent of methane cuts in this sector could make money as reducing leaks would make more gas available for sale.

Governments worldwide were aspiring to reduce methane. For instance-

• The European Commission had adopted the European Union Methane Strategy in October 2020. It outlined measures to cut methane emissions in Europe and internationally.

• Improved disposing of sewage: The waste sector could cut its methane emissions by improving the disposal of sewage around the world.
• Behavioural changes: Three behavioural changes — reducing food waste and loss, improving livestock management and adopting healthy diets (vegetarian or with a lower meat and dairy content) — could reduce methane emissions by 65–80 million tonnes per year over the next few decades.

In order to meet 1.5 degrees Celsius [of warming], global emissions must fall faster than annual Covid-level reductions. They have to compound.