COP26: World leaders pledge to cut methane emission levels by 30% by 2030 in 'game-changing commitment'
The Global Methane Pledge is an international initiative put forward by the US and EU to reduce methane emissions, an effective way to slow warming in the short term.
Tuesday 2 November 2021 17:49, UK
World leaders have pledged to cut methane emission levels by 30% by 2030 as part of efforts to tackle the climate crisis at the COP26 summit in Glasgow.
The Global Methane Pledge is an international initiative put forward by the US and EU to reduce methane emissions, an effective way to slow warming in the short term.
John Kerry, the Biden administration's climate envoy, said more than 100 countries have joined the effort to meet the targets of the pledge.
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He spoke before US President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appeared together in Glasgow to announce details of the wide-ranging plan.
The Biden administration plans to tackle oil and gas wells, pipelines and other infrastructure first as part of its broader strategy to crack down on climate change.
Its goal is to eliminate over 0.2C of near-term warming by cutting global methane by at least 30% by 2030.
While it sounds like a small change, it could have a significant impact on the severity and frequency of extreme weather events.
It will also substantially improve public health and agricultural productivity by reducing the ground-level ozone pollution that methane exacerbates.
Addressing the summit, Mr Biden thanked those who have signed the "game-changing commitment".
He said: "What we do in this decisive decade... is going to impact whether or not we can meet our longer-term commitment.
"One of the most important things we can do in this decisive decade to keep 1.5C in reach is to reduce our methane as quickly as possible.
"As has already been stated, it is one of the most potent greenhouse gases there is. It amounts to about half the warming we are experiencing today."
Other highlights so far from the summit include:
• The summit's first major announcement came in the form of more than 100 countries representing 85% of the world's forests agreeing to end and reverse deforestation by 2030 - with £14bn ($19.2bn) in public and private funding behind it
• Scores of world leaders signed a pledge to slash potent climate heating gas methane by 30% by 2030, a "low hanging fruit" when it comes to slowing warming in the short-term. It could shave 0.1-0.2 degrees off global warming
• Japan committed extra $10bn climate finance over five years, meaning rich countries could hit $100bn a year target one year sooner than expected, US climate envoy John Kerry said, as it "has the ability to leverage" a further $8bn
• Over 40 world leaders back plan to fund clean technology around the world by 2030, the UK government announced
• India finally came forward with a net zero promise - the 2070 target is 20 years later than the key 2050 date but still a big step forward, especially with its commitment to significantly slash emissions by 2030
• Boris Johnson warned the 1.5 degrees target is the difference 'between life and death'
• Five countries, including Britain and the United States, and a group of global charities promised $1.7bn to support indigenous people's conservation of forests and strengthen their land rights
Mr Biden added the pledge will make a "huge difference" not just when fighting climate change, but with the physical health of individuals.
During his two-day appearance at the summit in Glasgow, Mr Biden has vowed to work with the EU and other nations to achieve the goal.
Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister, told the summit: "We all want to build a cleaner and healthier future for our kids. That means taking real climate action."
He also told COP26 there's no achievable global pathway to reach the 1.5C target "without deep cuts to methane over the next decade".
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, explained that cutting back on methane emissions is "one of the most effective things we can do" to slow down climate change.
The pledge is arguably the biggest single thing countries can do to keep alive the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
Methane is usually produced as a by-product of the oil and gas industry, but if captured, it can be used as fuel for power plants and domestic purposes.
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Invisible and odourless, it is considered to be a major contributor to global warming and is much more harmful than carbon dioxide.
Experts believe lowering methane levels can not only stop the planet from getting hotter, but can actively lower global temperatures.
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Commenting on the updated pledge announced today at COP26, Professor Emily Shuckburgh, director of Cambridge Zero at the University of Cambridge, said: "Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas and rapid cuts would make an important difference.
"It has contributed about 0.5C to warming to date and although it doesn't stay as long in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide in the first 20 years after its release it is 80 times more powerful at heating.
"Methane is an easy win in terms of climate action: cuts using existing technologies and adopting different land management practices could reduce warming by 0.25C by 2050 at little or no cost, and help to keep 1.5 alive."
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