US in discussions with Russia on methane: Kerry

The US and Russia discussed the issue of methane today at the UN Cop 26 conference, Washington's special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry said.

The US and the EU earlier this week announced that 106 countries joined a pledge to cut their methane emissions by at least 30pc collectively by 2030, compared with 2020 levels. This was up from the 22 countries initially part of the agreement when it was launched in October.

But the three largest emitters — China, Russia and India — have not joined the agreement. The three are collectively responsible for more than a third of global methane emissions.

John Kerry said he met with the Russian delegation this morning, and discussed how they will tackle methane emissions and "possibly work" together.

"The Russians have major challenges in Siberia and the north, their infrastructure is affected by the thawing of the permafrost," he said. "They are a predominantly extractive economy and have to think about of they are going to make this transition."

China, Russia, India had taken part in a virtual meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate to discuss methane in September.

Natural gas, oil and coal are responsible for about 35pc of methane from human activity, and the brunt of cuts to emissions is likely to fall on the oil and gas sector. Around 45pc of methane from oil and gas can be averted at no net cost, by capturing it and selling it to customers, the IEA said earlier this year.

Agriculture is the largest single source of methane from human activity, but trying to curb emissions from dispersed sources such as livestock and rice cultivation will be costly and difficult to achieve over the next decade.

If successful, the methane pledge could contribute to reducing future temperatures by around 0.2°C, Kerry reiterated. He also talked about progresses made at Cop 26, saying he has "never in the first few days of Cops counted as many initiatives and as much real money being put on the table, even if they are some question marks about some of the money".

But he said the job will not be done by the end of Cop 26, adding that the challenge of climate change was a "decade-long race".

By Caroline Varin