International Methane Emissions Observatory

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The International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) of the UN Environment Programme is an initiative [1] which tackles the problem of methane emissions by collecting, integrating, and reconciling methane data from different sources, including scientific measurement studies, satellites, industry reporting through the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0, and national inventories. It was presented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) [2] at the G20 Leaders' Summit in 2021. IMEO creates a public global dataset of empirically verified methane emissions, with an initial focus on fossil fuel sources, and interconnects this data with actions on research, reporting, and regulation. [3] Manfredi Caltagirone is the Head of IMEO since its creation. [4]

Contents

IMEO serves as an implementing vehicle for the Global Methane Pledge [5] and has the European Commission [6] as one of its founding members.

Methane emissions

Methane is an important greenhouse gas, and its atmospheric concentration has nearly tripled since pre-industrial times. [7] It is responsible for about a quarter of current anthropogenic climate warming. [8] Its relatively short atmospheric lifespan – 10 to 12 years – means that reducing methane emissions can yield near-term reductions in the rate of warming, as well as air quality benefits. In its special report in 2019, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) noted that deep reductions in methane emissions must be achieved by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5 or even 2 degrees. [9] Building upon this conclusion, in 2021 the IPCC highlighted in the IPCC 6th Assessment report the important role of methane and other short-lived climate pollutants, recognizing robust evidence that drastic cuts in methane are important for near-term climate benefits, improved air quality, and achieving the Paris Agreement temperature targets. The fossil fuel industry is responsible for an estimated one-third of anthropogenic methane emissions [8] and is the sector with the highest potential for rapid and cost-effective reductions, [10] slowing the rate of warming in the near term even as decarbonisation of the global energy system progresses.

An Eye On Methane

In October 2021, IMEO published its first annual report: "An Eye on Methane: International Methane Emissions Observatory 2021 Report". It describes how state actors can take action to curb methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry, and what progress has been made as part of the decarbonization process, particularly in the energy sector. The document provided a framework of action to track and monitor methane emissions to plan mitigation action. [8]

Core functions

Core functions are: [11]

  1. Integrate methane data from all available sources into a platform, accounting for the confidence of each data element, that improves the characterization of global methane emissions.
  2. Collate proprietary asset emissions data through OGMP 2.0, report aggregated company data and verify progress towards announced targets using a range of data sources.
  3. Hold companies accountable for their emission performance and encourage companies to increase their performance targets, making rigorous methane emissions management integral to their operational practices.
  4. Fund scientific measurement studies to improve the characterization of methane emissions from human activities globally.
  5. Evaluate measurement methodologies and technologies to encourage the adoption at scale.
  6. Engage countries through capacity building by developing policy-relevant science, strengthening the science policy interface, and deepening the understanding of the climate importance of methane mitigation.
  7. Provide early warning services for extraordinary anthropogenic methane emissions.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Causes of climate change</span> Effort to scientifically ascertain mechanisms responsible for recent global warming

The scientific community has been investigating the causes of climate change for decades. After thousands of studies, it came to a consensus, where it is "unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land since pre-industrial times." This consensus is supported by around 200 scientific organizations worldwide, The dominant role in this climate change has been played by the direct emissions of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels. Indirect CO2 emissions from land use change, and the emissions of methane, nitrous oxide and other greenhouse gases play major supporting roles.

This glossary of climate change is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to climate change, global warming, and related topics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change mitigation</span> Actions to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to limit climate change

Climate change mitigation (or decarbonisation) is action to limit the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that cause climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions are primarily caused by people burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Phasing out fossil fuel use can happen by conserving energy and replacing fossil fuels with clean energy sources such as wind, hydro, solar, and nuclear power. Secondary mitigation strategies include changes to land use and removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. Governments have pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but actions to date are insufficient to avoid dangerous levels of climate change.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenhouse gas emissions</span> Sources and amounts of greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere from human activities

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities intensify the greenhouse effect. This contributes to climate change. Carbon dioxide, from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, is one of the most important factors in causing climate change. The largest emitters are China followed by the United States. The United States has higher emissions per capita. The main producers fueling the emissions globally are large oil and gas companies. Emissions from human activities have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide by about 50% over pre-industrial levels. The growing levels of emissions have varied, but have been consistent among all greenhouse gases. Emissions in the 2010s averaged 56 billion tons a year, higher than any decade before. Total cumulative emissions from 1870 to 2017 were 425±20 GtC from fossil fuels and industry, and 180±60 GtC from land use change. Land-use change, such as deforestation, caused about 31% of cumulative emissions over 1870–2017, coal 32%, oil 25%, and gas 10%.

Carbon monitoring as part of greenhouse gas monitoring refers to tracking how much carbon dioxide or methane is produced by a particular activity at a particular time. For example, it may refer to tracking methane emissions from agriculture, or carbon dioxide emissions from land use changes, such as deforestation, or from burning fossil fuels, whether in a power plant, automobile, or other device. Because carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas emitted in the largest quantities, and methane is an even more potent greenhouse gas, monitoring carbon emissions is widely seen as crucial to any effort to reduce emissions and thereby slow climate change.

This is a list of climate change topics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Methane</span> Hydrocarbon compound (CH₄) in natural gas

Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CH4. It is a group-14 hydride, the simplest alkane, and the main constituent of natural gas. The abundance of methane on Earth makes it an economically attractive fuel, although capturing and storing it is hard because it is a gas at standard temperature and pressure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenhouse gas</span> Gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation at thermal infrared wavelengths

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are the gases in the atmosphere that raise the surface temperature of planets such as the Earth. What distinguishes them from other gases is that they absorb the wavelengths of radiation that a planet emits, resulting in the greenhouse effect. The Earth is warmed by sunlight, causing its surface to radiate heat, which is then mostly absorbed by greenhouse gases. Without greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the average temperature of Earth's surface would be about −18 °C (0 °F), rather than the present average of 15 °C (59 °F).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atmospheric methane</span> Methane in Earths atmosphere

Atmospheric methane is the methane present in Earth's atmosphere. The concentration of atmospheric methane is increasing due to methane emissions, and is causing climate change. Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases. Methane's radiative forcing (RF) of climate is direct, and it is the second largest contributor to human-caused climate forcing in the historical period. Methane is a major source of water vapour in the stratosphere through oxidation; and water vapour adds about 15% to methane's radiative forcing effect. The global warming potential (GWP) for methane is about 84 in terms of its impact over a 20-year timeframe, and 28 in terms of its impact over a 100-year timeframe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental impact of the energy industry</span>

The environmental impact of the energy industry is significant, as energy and natural resource consumption are closely related. Producing, transporting, or consuming energy all have an environmental impact. Energy has been harnessed by human beings for millennia. Initially it was with the use of fire for light, heat, cooking and for safety, and its use can be traced back at least 1.9 million years. In recent years there has been a trend towards the increased commercialization of various renewable energy sources. Scientific consensus on some of the main human activities that contribute to global warming are considered to be increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, causing a warming effect, global changes to land surface, such as deforestation, for a warming effect, increasing concentrations of aerosols, mainly for a cooling effect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants</span>

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC) was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and six countries—Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden, and the United States—on 16 February 2012. The CCAC aims to catalyze rapid reductions in short-lived climate pollutants to protect human health, agriculture and the environment. To date, more than $90 million has been pledged to the Climate and Clean Air Coalition from Canada, Denmark, the European Commission, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United States. The program is managed out of the United Nations Environmental Programme through a Secretariat in Paris, France.

Increasing methane emissions are a major contributor to the rising concentration of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere, and are responsible for up to one-third of near-term global heating. During 2019, about 60% of methane released globally was from human activities, while natural sources contributed about 40%. Reducing methane emissions by capturing and utilizing the gas can produce simultaneous environmental and economic benefits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenhouse gas emissions by Russia</span> Greenhouse gas emissions originating from Russia and efforts to reduce them

Greenhouse gas emissionsbyRussia are mostly from fossil gas, oil and coal. Russia emits 2 or 3 billion tonnes CO2eq of greenhouse gases each year; about 4% of world emissions. Annual carbon dioxide emissions alone are about 12 tons per person, more than double the world average. Cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and therefore air pollution in Russia, would have health benefits greater than the cost. The country is the world's biggest methane emitter, and 4 billion dollars worth of methane was estimated to leak in 2019/20.

This article documents events, research findings, scientific and technological advances, and human actions to measure, predict, mitigate, and adapt to the effects of global warming and climate change—during the year 2021.

References

  1. ↑ "Estimating methane emissions – Global Methane Tracker 2022 – Analysis". IEA. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  2. ↑ "Methane Observatory launched to boost action on powerful climate-warming gas". 31 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "IMEO". UNEP. 25 January 2024.
  4. ↑ "Meet the Team". UNEP - UN Environment Programme. 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  5. ↑ "U.S.-EU Joint Press Release on the Global Methane Pledge Energy Pathway". US Department of State.
  6. ↑ "International Methane Emissions Observatory launched to boost action on powerful climate-warming gas". European Commission.
  7. ↑ Bousquet, P.; Ciais, P.; Miller, J. B.; Dlugokencky, E. J.; Hauglustaine, D. A.; Prigent, C.; Van Der Werf, G. R.; Peylin, P.; Brunke, E.-G.; Carouge, C.; Langenfelds, R. L.; Lathière, J.; Papa, F.; Ramonet, M.; Schmidt, M.; Steele, L. P.; Tyler, S. C.; White, J. (28 September 2006). "Contribution of anthropogenic and natural sources to atmospheric methane variability". Nature. 443 (7110): 439–443. Bibcode:2006Natur.443..439B. doi:10.1038/nature05132. PMID   17006511 . Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 "An Eye On Methane" (PDF). UNEP. 1: 6. September 2021.
  9. ↑ "IPCC Sixth Assessment Report" (PDF). UNEP. April 2022.
  10. ↑ "Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas". International Energy Agency. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "Earth Information Day" (PDF). UNFCCC. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
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