Why in News?

• Recently, the Global Methane Assessment: 2030 Baseline Report was launched at the Climate and Clean Air Ministerial Meeting at COP27, highlighting that Methane emissions are going to rise by 5-13% by 2030.

Key Highlights

• Methane levels in the atmosphere in 2021 recorded the highest at 1908 ppb.
• Amount of methane in the atmosphere is 260% of pre-industrial levels.
• Current annual Methane emissions from human activities are 350-390 million tonnes and responsible for about 45% net warming.
• Agriculture & fossil fuel energy sectors are dominant in methane emissions.
• Current targeted measures will reduce emissions by about 45%, by 2030.

Efforts to Curb Methane Emissions

• Global Methane Pledge (COP 26) targets cutting Methane emissions by 45 % (at 2020 levels) and reduction of warming by at least 0.2°C between 2040 and 2070.
  • India is not a member of Global Methane pledge initiative.
• Methane Alert and Response System (MARS): At CoP27, the UN launched the MARS to track methane emissions.
• MethaneSAT: A satellite that will track methane leakage is to be launched.
• The International Energy Forum (IEF) launched the IEF Methane Initiative in June 2021 to develop a methane emissions measurement methodology.

About Methane

• Methane (CH4) is the principal component of natural gas.
• It is responsible for over 25 % of global warming.
• It is a powerful greenhouse gas with life-span of 20 years.
• Global Warming Potential over 80 times of CO2.
• India is among the top 5 methane emitters in the world.