If you’re concerned about human methane emissions, you’re not alone. This article will provide information about the sources, impacts, and the progress being made to reduce emissions. It will also show why the issue is so important. After all, the emission of this greenhouse gas equals the equivalent of 788 million cars!
Sources
Humans are among the major sources of methane emissions in the atmosphere. These emissions are produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. No combustion process is 100% efficient. Another source of methane emissions is enteric fermentation, a process that occurs in the stomach of farm animals. When these animals pass food through the digestive system, the bacteria that live there produce methane as a by-product. This gas is then exhaled by the animal or released in its flatus.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. If we were to remove all this gas from the atmosphere, we would avert nearly 0.3 degrees of global warming by 2045. This would help us achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5°C. By 2030, it would also prevent the premature deaths of more than 260,000 people, 775 million asthma-related hospital visits, and an estimated 73 billion hours of lost labour. It would also save the world from an estimated 25 million tonnes of crop losses due to extreme heat.
A number of human activities cause methane emissions. For example, rice farming releases methane into the atmosphere. Paddy fields, which are manmade wetlands, contain high moisture and plenty of organic material that are ideal for methane-producing microbes. In addition to human activities, methane is also released into the atmosphere by natural processes like oil and gas exploitation.
Impacts
Recent studies show that human methane emissions have a major impact on the planet. These emissions are largely sourced from five industrial sectors: agriculture, fossil fuels, coal mining, and solid-waste and wastewater management. Methane emissions from these sectors are responsible for 98 percent of humanity’s methane emissions. This finding suggests that reducing emissions from these industries is an important goal in limiting future global warming.
By 2030, a reduction of 45 percent in human-caused methane emissions would avert nearly 0.3degC of global warming. This would be well within the Paris Agreement target of 1.5 degrees Celsius. As the largest oil and gas producer, the United States has the opportunity to take the lead in reducing methane emissions. This is why President Biden recently signed legislation to reinstate Obama-era regulations on methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. These regulations will undo the rollbacks made by the Trump administration and restore critical protections to communities nationwide.
Another way to reduce emissions is to adopt more sustainable agriculture practices. Agricultural methods such as dry seeding rice paddies can help reduce the methane emissions from agricultural fields. These techniques can reduce methane emissions by up to 30% while also increasing the yields of other agricultural crops.
Progress in reducing emissions
The majority of human methane emissions are produced by the energy sector, including fossil fuels, landfills, and livestock. These emissions also contribute to ozone pollution, which increases the risk of hospitalization and inhibits forest growth and crop yields. Fortunately, a variety of methods are available for reducing human methane emissions, including satellites and sensors.
Although there is still a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the future of methane emissions, the good news is that major reductions can be made with proven technologies and policies. The Global Methane Tracker includes a detailed policy explorer that shows which policies have the greatest potential for impact and which have already been implemented. By 2030, a 45 percent reduction in methane emissions would prevent nearly 0.3degC of global warming, which is well within the Paris Climate Agreement’s target of 1.5°C.
Methane emissions from the agriculture sector make up about 40 to 50 percent of all human methane emissions. A reduction of this proportion in the agricultural sector is achievable through the use of new rice farming methods and feed additives for cattle. Another method of reducing emissions is by using alternative approaches for water management and soil carbon and nitrogen.
The United States is among the largest emitters of methane, and Russia has committed to significantly reduce emissions over the next 30 years. A global methane reduction is essential for the survival of our planet. On a global scale, the progress made so far will determine the fate of our planet.
Importance of reducing emissions
Reducing human-caused methane emissions would bring profound climate, health, and economic benefits. It is therefore critical that we start doing so now. The United Nations Environment Programme and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition have released an interactive policy support tool to help identify the most effective ways to reduce these emissions. It helps users compare different mitigation options and weigh their costs and benefits.
The UN-supported report estimates that cutting methane emissions by half by 2040 will allow the world to meet the 1.5 degree Celsius target. If the world is able to reach this goal, it would not only help reduce climate change, but would also improve public health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Because methane is one of the greenhouse gases, reducing it would also reduce ozone levels in the atmosphere, which pose an additional health risk.
Most of the emissions come from the fossil fuels industry, followed by agriculture and waste. Landfills and agricultural facilities produce methane during their processes and are responsible for about 20% of human-linked emissions. Methane pollution has become a major environmental issue and is a significant contributor to ground-level ozone. It is estimated that exposure to this air pollution causes one million premature deaths every year. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.
Cutting human-caused methane emissions is a cost-effective way to help prevent global warming. It is also an important contribution to the Paris Agreement goal to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Using targeted methane mitigation measures will result in a 45 percent reduction in methane emissions by 2030. This reduction will prevent nearly 0.3 degC of global warming and prevent 775,000 asthma-related hospital visits.
Need to reduce emissions by 45 per cent within 10 years
A recent study has revealed that humans are emitting significantly more methane into the atmosphere than previously thought. It also indicates that these emissions are increasing quickly. However, it remains unclear how much methane is in the air at any given time. Moreover, current methods to measure atmospheric methane are not widely available and do not always agree. However, researchers at Plata Lab are working on developing inexpensive methane sensors that will provide an accurate and timely assessment of human methane emissions.
Methane is a precursor to ground-level ozone, which is a harmful air pollutant. With the right measures, methane emissions can be cut by more than two-thirds in the next decade. This target will be difficult to achieve, especially since methane emissions from the oil and gas industry are predicted to increase 25 percent in the coming decades.
As a result, governments around the world are making plans to reduce human-caused methane emissions by 45 per cent within the next decade. This would prevent almost 0.3 degrees Celsius of global warming by 2045. Moreover, it would also be in line with the Paris Climate Agreement’s goal of limiting the increase in global temperatures to 1.5 degC.
The Global Carbon Project estimates that about half of all methane emissions are caused by human activities. This includes the burning of agricultural wastes, grasslands, and landfills. Furthermore, fracking for natural gas has triggered a rise in methane emissions.
Importance of reducing emissions by 50 per cent within 10 years
Methane is a gas that is odorless and involved in ground-level ozone formation, a serious air pollutant that has a negative impact on human health. It also has a much shorter lifetime in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, so efforts to reduce emissions could have more immediate climate change impacts. One tonne of atmospheric methane has the same warming potential as 85 tonnes of CO2 over 20 years, so if we can reduce emissions by 50 per cent within 10 years, we’ll be able to make a real difference in the global climate.
The benefits of reducing methane emissions are numerous. Aside from curbing global warming, it can also reduce energy costs and health risks. It also contributes to the quality of water and air in our communities. Many technologies and measures are now available to reduce human methane emissions.
Human-caused methane emissions have been rising faster than CO2 emissions since the 1980s. This is especially dangerous as carbon dioxide remains the primary driver of global warming and has a nine-year lifetime in the atmosphere. As a result, methane emissions will soon exhaust our carbon budget.
Human methane emissions are mainly due to five industries: agriculture, oil and gas, coal mining, solid-waste management, and wastewater management. While the potential for mitigation varies by region, these sectors are responsible for most of the global methane emissions.
