New research shows just 13% of global methane emissions are covered by policy, and those policies are often ineffective
Methane, a greenhouse gas known to do about 80 times more damage to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, is often overlooked by policymakers and governments.
In a review, researchers analysed the coverage, stringency, and real-world impact of current global methane emissions policies for the first time.
They found that only 13% of emissions are currently covered by direct mitigation policies.
In order to limit climate warming to 1.5°C in accordance with the Paris Agreement, global methane emissions need to be cut by at least 40%-45%, according to the 2021 Global Methane Assessment – a feat that the authors assert can be accomplished if governments adopt stricter policies and measure emissions more accurately.
“The need for comprehensive and targeted methane mitigation strategies is highlighted by a growing body of literature. But methane emissions are increasing faster than at any time since the 1980s,” write environmental policy experts Maria Olczak, Andris Piebalgs, and Paul Balcombe of the Queen Mary University of London/ Environmental Defense Fund Europe, the European University Institute’s Florence School of Regulation, and the Queen Mary University of London, respectively.
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Policies vary dramatically
To determine how effective current emissions restrictions are, the team reviewed 281 policies across the highest methane-producing sectors, including energy, waste, and agriculture.
They found that the number of policies varies dramatically between regions and that the policies currently in place are not stringent enough, largely because they were created based on inaccurate data.
Often, the emissions estimates used by policymakers come from under-reported greenhouse gas estimates, datasets that are not open to the public, or figures that vary substantially depending on the method used.
The researchers write: “A consistent approach for accurate identification, quantification, and verification of methane emissions sources alongside greater policy coverage and stringency must be put into place to realize the significant methane emissions reduction opportunities.”
Mitigating man-made methane emissions is one of the cheapest ways to slow down climate change and improve air quality, according to the Global Methane Assessment.
However, the authors argue, progress will depend on a global, unified effort to limit emissions, and quick action needs to be taken on both a national and a regional level in order to meet climate goals.
“Effective methane mitigation requires stronger social support and political consensus. Yet, methane reduction is still perceived as a choice rather than a necessity complementing the ongoing decarbonisation efforts focused largely on CO2,” the researchers write.
“The upcoming climate conference COP28 in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), when collective progress towards the Paris Agreement objectives will be assessed for the first time, offers an enormous opportunity for change.”
The research is published in One Earth.
Image: Most emissions come from the agriculture, energy, and waste sectors, and only about 13% of cumulative emissions are covered by policy. Credit: One Earth/ Olczak et al. (CC BY-SA).
