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Methane Mitigation

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• GS Paper 3 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
• Tags: #methane #climatechange #globalwarming #india #currentaffairs #upsc

Why in the News?

IEA suggested Urgent action to cut methane emissions from fossil fuel operations essential to achieve global climate targets.

Methane (CH4), a key component of natural gas, plays a pivotal role in the world’s energy landscape. However, its dual identity as both a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) and a short-lived compound makes it a critical factor in climate change. Its important to explores the significance of methane, its sources, and the urgent need to mitigate its emissions. Additionally, it delves into global initiatives aimed at tackling this pressing issue.

Understanding Methane: A Simple Yet Powerful Molecule

• Methane, the most basic hydrocarbon, is composed of a lone carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms, chemically represented as CH4. While it serves as a vital fuel source globally, its significance goes beyond its combustible properties.
• Methane is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) with a relatively short atmospheric lifespan of about a decade, yet its climatic influence extends far into the future.
• Remarkably, over the initial 20 years of its presence in the atmosphere, methane possesses more than 80 times the heat-trapping capacity of carbon dioxide.
• Commonly originating from various sources such as oil and natural gas systems, agricultural practices, coal mining operations, and waste disposal, methane underscores its dual role as a valuable resource and a climate-altering factor.

Methane Emissions and Global Warming

• Mitigating methane emissions is crucial to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
• Methane has contributed to about 30% of global warming since the Industrial Revolution. Efforts to reduce emissions could prevent approximately 0.1°C of warming by 2050.

Current Methane Emission Scenario

• Globally, approximately 580 million tonnes of methane are emitted annually, with human activities responsible for 60% of these emissions.
• Fossil fuel operations alone accounted for about 120 million tonnes of methane emissions in 2022.
• If current trends continue, total anthropogenic methane emissions could increase by up to 13% between 2020 and 2030.

Sources of Methane

The majority of human-caused methane emissions are linked to specific activities, including:

• Livestock Farming: Ruminant animals like cows, sheep, goats, and buffaloes produce methane emissions through their unique digestive systems, accounting for around 32% of human-caused methane emissions.
• Natural Gas Systems: Leaks from natural gas systems contribute significantly to methane emissions.
• Landfills and Waste: Methane emissions from landfills and waste from homes and businesses are notable sources.
• Agriculture: Agriculture is the predominant source of methane emissions. Paddy rice cultivation, which creates ideal conditions for methane-emitting bacteria, accounts for an additional 8% of human-linked emissions.

The Need for Targeted Methane Mitigation

• Failure to address methane emissions could lead to global temperatures exceeding 1.6°C by 2050, even with substantial reductions in fossil fuel use.
• Targeted mitigation measures are essential and can leverage existing technologies to avoid over 80 million tonnes of annual methane emissions from fossil fuels by 2030.
• These solutions are often cost-effective, with around USD 75 billion needed by 2030 for methane reduction measures in the oil and gas sector. Regulatory frameworks play a crucial role in implementing these measures effectively.

Methane emissions have several detrimental effects

• Accelerated Global Warming: Methane intensifies the greenhouse effect, hastening global warming.
• Climate Consequences: This leads to more extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and melting ice.
• Air Pollution: Methane contributes to ground-level ozone, harming air quality and human health.
• Positive Feedback Loop: It can trigger a vicious cycle, releasing more methane as temperatures rise.
• Ocean Acidification: Methane in oceans contributes to harmful acidification, endangering marine life.
• Biodiversity Loss: Ecosystem disruption threatens species and biodiversity.
• Agricultural Impacts: Altered climate patterns affect crop yields and food security.
• Economic Costs: Damage and disruptions impact industries and economies.
• Health Concerns: Poor air quality from methane-related pollution harms public health.

Economic and Health Benefits of reducing methane emissions

• Mitigating methane emissions not only reduces global warming but also has significant economic and health benefits.
• It can help prevent nearly one million premature deaths through 2050, equivalent to the population of Amsterdam.
• Furthermore, achieving methane reduction targets can prevent 95 million tonnes of crop losses for key staples, resulting in direct economic benefits valued at more than USD 260 billion between 2020 and 2050.

Global and Indian Initiatives to Tackle Methane Emissions

Addressing methane emissions requires concerted efforts on a global scale. Several initiatives have been launched to combat this pressing issue:

• India Greenhouse Gas Program: An industry-led initiative that helps Indian companies monitor and manage GHG emissions using tools and methodologies from the World Resources Institute’s GHG Protocol.
• Harit Dhara: An anti-methanogenic feed supplement for livestock that can reduce enteric methane emissions by up to 17-20% when incorporated into livestock feed.
• Methane Alert and Response System (MARS): Launched by UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory, MARS aims to detect and respond to major methane emissions sources, supporting the Global Methane Pledge.
• Global Methane Initiative (GMI): Established in 2004, GMI is an international public-private initiative that focuses on methane abatement and recovery in biogas, coal mines, and oil and gas systems. It involves 46 partner countries and aims to reduce methane emissions and promote energy security, economic growth, air quality, and worker safety.
• Global Methane Pledge: Launched at COP26, this initiative led by the United States and the European Union has 111 country participants, committing to collectively reduce methane emissions by at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030.

Regulatory Frameworks

• Appropriate regulatory frameworks are indispensable for effective methane reduction. These frameworks must encourage actions like eliminating routine venting and flaring and repairing leaks in the energy sector.
• While many measures can be financed by the industry itself, some low- and middle-income countries may require concessional financing to implement interventions effectively.

Way Forward

• Improved Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR): Implementing rigorous LDAR programs in the oil and gas industry can identify and address methane leaks, reducing emissions and conserving energy.
• Livestock Methane Reduction: Research and adoption of feed supplements, dietary changes, and improved animal management practices can help reduce methane emissions from livestock.
• Methane Capture and Use: Methane can be captured from landfills, wastewater treatment plants, and agricultural facilities and used as a clean energy source rather than being released into the atmosphere.
• Enhanced Regulation: Governments and environmental agencies can enforce stricter regulations and standards for methane emissions in various sectors, ensuring compliance and emission reductions.
• Public Awareness and Advocacy: Promoting awareness about the impact of methane emissions and encouraging individuals and businesses to take action can drive a collective effort to curb methane and combat climate change. 

Methane emissions represent a critical aspect of climate change and global warming. Efforts to mitigate these emissions are vital to prevent further temperature increases and their associated consequences. Through global initiatives and the commitment of nations and industries, the world can work together to reduce methane emissions, benefitting the environment, health, and the economy. Appropriate regulatory frameworks will play a pivotal role in achieving these goals.

Sources: UN, UNEP.

Mains Question

Methane, a key component of natural gas, plays a pivotal role in the world’s energy landscape. Discuss its dual identity as both a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) and a short-lived compound, and the urgent need to mitigate its emissions. Explain the sources of methane and highlight global initiatives aimed at addressing this pressing issue.