Global methane emissions reach record levels and put the world on track for 3ºC of warming

Methane, one of the main greenhouse gases, is once again setting a new record. In 2017, the last year with complete data, the atmosphere absorbed almost 600 million tons of this gas. Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, its emissions have increased by 9%.

They are data from two articles that are published this Wednesday in “Earth System Science Data” and “Environmental Research Letters” by researchers from the Global Carbon Project. In their conclusions they point out that, taking into account the trend of growth of methane emissions since 2000, the planet is on track to reach 3-4 degrees of global warming by the end of the century. This would mean far exceeding the threshold of “climate security” (between 1.5 and 2 degrees) and entering a terrain where heat waves, droughts, floods or forest fires would multiply.

“Methane is now responsible for 23% of global warming due to greenhouse gases, with emissions growing rapidly in many parts of Asia and america,” explains Pep Canadell of the Global Carbon Project. Europe is the only region where they decline thanks to better management of landfills or manure, while where they increase the most is in Africa and the Middle East, China and South Asia and Oceania, which includes Australia and many Pacific islands.

Each of these three regions increased emissions by between 10 and 15 million tonnes per year during the study period. The United States followed closely, increasing methane emissions by 4.5 million tons, primarily due to increased drilling, distribution, and consumption of natural gas.

“The use of natural gas is increasing rapidly here in the United States and around the world,” Jackson said. “It’s offsetting coal in the power sector and reducing carbon dioxide emissions, but increasing methane emissions in that sector.” The United States and Canada are also producing more natural gas, so emissions from leaky pipelines are increasing.

In addition to fossil fuels, the other main driver of methane growth is in agriculture and livestock, especially cows, according to the authors. For example, in human activities linked to the field these emissions increased to 227 million tons in 2017, almost 11% more than the 2000-2006 average. Regarding the production and use of fossil fuels, methane reached 108 million tons, almost 15% more.

Methane breaks down in the atmosphere faster than carbon dioxide, but it’s a much more powerful greenhouse gas. A methane molecule is 28 times more potent than a _CO2 molecule at trapping heat over a span of 100 years.

Source: ABC