{"id":106007,"date":"2021-05-10T15:29:37","date_gmt":"2021-05-10T09:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=106007"},"modified":"2021-05-10T21:12:56","modified_gmt":"2021-05-10T15:42:56","slug":"global-methane-assessment-the-un-report-on-human-caused-methane-emissions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/global-methane-assessment-the-un-report-on-human-caused-methane-emissions\/","title":{"rendered":"“Global Methane Assessment” :The UN Report on human-caused methane emissions"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/h5>\n
What is the News?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Climate and Clean Air Coalition(CCAC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a report titled \u201cGlobal Methane Assessment: Benefits and Costs of Mitigating Methane Emissions\u201d.<\/p>\n

Objective<\/strong>: The report has suggested that the world needs to dramatically cut methane emissions to avoid the worst of climate change.<\/p>\n

Key Findings of the Global Methane Assessment Report:<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Increase in Methane Emissions:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Currently, Human-caused methane emissions <\/strong>are increasing faster at any other time (since record keeping began in the 1980s).<\/li>\n
  • Carbon dioxide levels <\/strong>have dropped during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. However, methane in the atmosphere reached record levels last year.<\/li>\n
  • This was a cause of concern as methane <\/strong>was an extremely powerful greenhouse gas. It was responsible for about 30% of global warming since pre-industrial times.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
    Source of Methane Emissions:<\/strong><\/h5>\n
      \n
    • More than half of <\/strong>global methane emissions stem from human activities in three sectors: fossil fuels (35%), waste (20%) and agriculture(40%).<\/li>\n
    • Fossil fuel sector: <\/strong>Oil and gas extraction, processing and distribution account for 23%. Coal mining alone accounts for 12% of emissions.<\/li>\n
    • Waste sector: <\/strong>Landfills and wastewater make up about 20% of global anthropogenic emissions.<\/li>\n
    • Agricultural sector: <\/strong>Livestock emissions from manure and fermentation represent roughly 32%. Further, rice cultivation accounts for 8% of global anthropogenic emissions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Methane Mitigation according to Global Methane Assessment<\/strong> Report<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

      The mitigation potential in different sectors varies between countries and regions:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Europe had the greatest potential <\/strong>to curb methane emissions from farming, fossil fuel operations and waste management.<\/li>\n
      • India had the greatest potential <\/strong>to reduce methane emissions in the waste sector.<\/li>\n
      • China\u2019s mitigation potential<\/strong> was best in coal production and livestock.<\/li>\n
      • Africa\u2019s mitigation potential was best in livestock, followed by oil and gas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
        What needs to be done?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
          \n
        • Human-caused methane emissions <\/strong>must be cut by 45% to avoid the worst effects of climate change.<\/li>\n
        • Such a cut <\/strong>would prevent a rise in global warming by up to 0.3 degrees Celsius by 2045.<\/li>\n
        • It would also prevent <\/strong>26 lakh premature deaths, 77 lakh asthma-related hospital visits annually as well as 25 million tonnes of crop losses.<\/li>\n
        • Further, three human behavioural changes<\/strong> could reduce methane emissions by 65\u201380 million tonnes per year over the next few decades. The behavioural changes are:\n
            \n
          • Reducing food waste and loss<\/li>\n
          • Improving livestock management and<\/li>\n
          • Adopting healthy diets (vegetarian or with a lower meat and dairy content).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
            Climate and Clean Air Coalition(CCAC)<\/strong><\/h5>\n
              \n
            • Climate and Clean Air Coalition <\/strong>is a voluntary partnership of governments, intergovernmental organizations, businesses, scientific institutions and civil society organizations.<\/li>\n
            • Aim<\/strong>: The coalition aims to protect the climate and improve air quality<\/span> through actions to reduce short-lived climate pollutants.<\/li>\n
            • India<\/strong> is a member of the coalition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
              What are Short-lived Climate Pollutants?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
                \n
              • Short-lived climate pollutants <\/strong>are climate pollutants that remain in the atmosphere for a much shorter period of time than carbon dioxide (CO2). Though short-lived they have the potential to warm the atmosphere many times greater than CO2.<\/li>\n
              • Several short-lived climate pollutants <\/strong>like black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons.<\/span> These alone are responsible for up to 45% of current global warming.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                About Methane:<\/strong><\/h5>\n
                  \n
                • Firstly, Methane (CH4) <\/strong>is a colourless, odourless, and highly flammable gas composed of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms.<\/li>\n
                • Secondly, Methane is found<\/strong> in small quantities in Earth’s atmosphere. Methane is also a powerful greenhouse gas.<\/li>\n
                • Thirdly, Major natural sources of methane <\/strong>include emissions from wetlands and oceans, and from the digestive processes of termites.<\/li>\n
                • Fourthly, Methane sources related to human activities<\/strong> include rice production, landfills, raising cattle and other ruminant animals, and energy generation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Source: <\/strong>Down To Earth<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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                  Pollution in India: Basic and concepts<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n