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cores of nations have joined a pledge to chop their methane emissions by 30% by the tip of the last decade as a part of efforts to deal with local weather change.
The worldwide methane pledge, led by the US and EU, has been formally launched on the Cop26 local weather summit in Glasgow the place international locations are underneath stress to extend their emissions cuts to keep away from harmful warming past 1.5C.
Chopping methane, a strong however comparatively short-lived greenhouse fuel which comes from sources together with fossil gas extraction and livestock farming, is seen as making a big short-term contribution to local weather motion.
Half of the world’s prime 30 methane emitters, together with the US, EU, Indonesia Pakistan, Argentina, Mexico, Nigeria, Iraq, Vietnam and Canada, have joined the pledge.
Collectively we’re committing to collectively cut back our methane by 30% by 2030, and I believe we may in all probability transcend that
Talking on the summit, US President Joe Biden thanked those that have signed the “game-changing dedication”.
“Collectively we’re committing to collectively cut back our methane by 30% by 2030, and I believe we may in all probability transcend that,” he stated.
“Right this moment it’s approaching 100 international locations which might be signing on. That’s almost half the worldwide methane emissions… It’s going to make an enormous distinction.”
Mr Biden stated this could not solely assist combat local weather change but in addition enhance well being, lower crop losses and cut back air pollution.
He added: “Some of the necessary issues we are able to do on this decisive decade to maintain 1.5 levels is cut back our methane emissions as shortly as potential.
“It’s probably the most potent greenhouse gases there may be. It quantities to about half the warming we’re experiencing right now.”
European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen stated she is “proud and joyful and grateful that over 80 international locations have signed up”.
She added: “Methane is 80 instances extra international warming than CO2. And right now, international methane emissions develop sooner than at any time up to now.
“So chopping again on methane emissions is likely one of the only issues we are able to do to cut back near-term international warming and hold 1.5C. It’s the lowest hanging fruit.”
Clear power suppose tank Ember’s international lead, Dave Jones, stated: “The worldwide methane pledge is a game-changing second – it reveals that the world is waking as much as methane’s staggering local weather influence.
“For international locations to chop as a lot methane as potential, they have to goal all sources,” he stated.
He added: “Coal mine methane is pretty fast and low-cost to do one thing about and a large contributor to international heating.”
Ember stated some main emitters haven’t signed as much as the worldwide methane pledge, together with China, Russia, India and Australia, however that different prime coal emitters, together with the EU, US and Indonesia, had executed so.
The transfer was additionally welcomed by campaigners, with Dr Kat Kramer, Christian Assist’s local weather coverage lead, saying the pledge could be important, if achieved, doubtlessly decreasing warming by 0.3C by the 2040s.
“Methane is a greenhouse fuel strongly related to the fossil gas trade, with what are often called ‘fugitive emissions’ evaporating from coal mines, from oil and fuel extraction and from pipelines.
“Methane is however one more reason why the fossil gas trade has to finish – and shortly,” she stated.
“For the poorest and most weak folks, who’re already being hit by catastrophic local weather impacts, the local weather co-benefits of shutting down the fossil gas trade and gaining the double whammy of diminished methane and carbon dioxide emissions will assist to cut back their future struggling.
“However these polluters additionally have to pay for the harm they’ve already wrought,” she added.
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