Regulation of Global Methane Emissions
- 22 May 2023
Recently, a study conducted by researchers revealed that only approximately 13% of global methane emissions are regulated, despite methane being responsible for at least 25% of current global warming.
Key findings of the research are:
- Limited knowledge: The researchers found that there is limited knowledge regarding the effectiveness of existing policies, as estimations are often used instead of actual measurements.
- Adopted in Three Regions: The findings showed that 90% of identified national policies were adopted in three regions namely North America (39%), Europe (30%), and the Asia Pacific (21%).
- Methane emissions are currently increasing at a rate faster than any time since the 1980s.
- Satellites to Monitor Methane Emissions: The researchers suggest that using technologies like satellites to monitor methane emissions can assist policymakers in measurement, verification, compliance, and detection of significant emitters.
- Policies Tend To Be Less Stringent: While there has been a gradual increase in methane policies globally since 1974, policies targeting fossil methane emissions from coal, oil, and gas sectors tend to be less stringent compared to those addressing biogenic methane sources, particularly in the waste sector.
- Introducing Policies With Broader Coverage: The study emphasize the importance of introducing policies with broader coverage, mitigation solutions for major sources, and measurable objectives to achieve a significant reduction in methane emissions.
- To meet the 1.5°C objective of the Paris Agreement, man-made methane emissions should be reduced by at least 40 to 45% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels.
