Cop 27: UN says methane emissions rising quickly

Global methane emissions are on track to increase by as much as 13pc by 2030, putting at risk efforts to avoid the worst effects of climate change, according to a new UN report.

Methane concentrations last year reached a level that is 260pc above pre-industrial levels, with the pace picking up in recent years, a report published by the UN Environment Program and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition says. In addition, by 2030, methane emission are projected to increase by 20mn-50mn tonnes/yr from current levels of 350mn-390mn t/yr, the report says.

The report, meant to spur more action by countries, was presented yesterday at a Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) ministerial meeting at the Cop 27 UN climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh.

It notes that if emissions are reduced by 30pc by 2030, the goal of the Global Methane Pledge launched last year at the Cop 26 summit, the increase in average global temperatures could be reduced by at least 0.2°C over the next 50 years. The UN's 2015 Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and ideally to 1.5°C.

"There is no more meaningful way to get quick, easy and cheap reductions that are responsible for the largest portion" of near-term global warming, US climate envoy John Kerry said.

The coalition, a partnership of governments non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders, is supporting efforts to reduce short-lived greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as methane, which linger in the atmosphere for much less time than CO2 but often have a much greater warming effect.

Achieving the 30pc target would require an overall reduction of at least 110mn t, down to less than 270mn t in 2030, the report says. That would also be about a 150mn t reduction from the projected 2030 baseline.

A number of ministers at the event also announced new funding commitments totaling $6mn to support CCAC activity or previewed new actions to be unveiled later this week.

Kerry said the US would provide half of the new funding to the coalition, or $3mn, although the US Congress would have to agree to this. Republicans appear poised to win control of the US House of Representatives, albeit with a small majority, following the recent US elections, with Democrats retaining control of the Senate.

Canadian environment minister Steven Guilbeault said he will be announcing new efforts to reduce methane with small island developing states.

By Michael Ball