Methane pollution is higher than previously believed and is already a concern as much as CO ₂

CO2 _{has more prominence than methane when it comes to talking about greenhouse gases that are accelerating the global warming of planet Earth.} At most, this second one jumps to the headlines when talking about emissions from cattle farms. However, more and more expert voices claim the importance of this gas when it comes to proposing solutions to curb climate change.

The most recent report (February 2022) by the International Energy Agency states that methane is responsible for 30% of the increase in temperatures since the industrial revolution began.

But the truth is that its weight in the set of polluting gases may be greater than previously believed.

This has been highlighted by another recent report that has used satellite imagery to measure methane emission by the oil and gas industry.

The conclusion he reaches is that it is greater than recognized. Those large undeclared methane emitters account for at least 10% of official methane emissions from oil and gas in the top six producing countries.

Translated into numbers, each ton of methane not included in official reports would equate to $4,400 impact on climate and surface ozone, both of which affect human health, labor, productivity or crop yields, among others.

What it is and where it is produced

Methane is a colorless, odorless gas that in nature is produced from the anaerobic putrefaction of plants. This natural process can be harnessed to produce biogas and can constitute up to 97% of natural gas. In coal mines it is called grisú and is very dangerous because of its ease of ignition.

Among the sources of emission of natural origin, the decomposition of organic waste (30%), swamps (23%), the extraction of fossil fuels (20%) and the digestion processes of animals, especially livestock (17%) stand out.

Why it’s more important than you think

Methane is considered to be the second most impactful greenhouse gas. However, historically it has not been given as much importance as _CO2.

Both have different behaviors. Carbon dioxide is the longest-lived and most widespread pollutant. The rest, including methane, are short-lived and disappear from the atmosphere relatively quickly. However, scientists have shown that it is much more effective at trapping solar radiation and contributing more powerfully to warming. It has been calculated that it has 36 times more potential. Hence the importance to combat it almost at the same level as the famous _CO2.

To this end, the European Union has a Methane Strategy dating back to 2020. In addition, it is preparing new legislation that focuses on this gas and with which it intends to reduce its emissions.

The energy sector (which includes oil, natural gas, coal and bioenergy) is once again in the lead in terms of the responsibility for emitting methane.

According to the Analysis of the International Energy Agency, about 40% of methane emissions come from energy. Therefore, this body believes that being aware of this problem is a great opportunity to limit global warming “because the ways to reduce them are well known and often profitable,” the report argues.

Livestock, at the tail end of emissions

Why is it common to blame cows for being largely responsible for methane ills? Because although agriculture is not the main responsible, it is more difficult to reduce the methane emissions it emits and the combined effect of the agricultural sector is considered to be very important. That is, any change, no matter how small, in this sector can have a great impact.

On these necessary gestures, at COP26 the countries reached the agreement to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030, materialized in the Global Methane Initiative.

In Europe, the strategy to achieve compliance with this pact will focus on reducing methane emissions in the energy, agriculture and waste sectors, since these areas represent almost all methane emissions in the Old Continent.

The approach is to implement specific actions in each economic sector and take advantage of synergies between sectors (such as, for example, through the production of biomethane).

Source: ABC