World Falling Short on Methane Pledge, U.N. Report Finds

The world is lagging behind on its pledge to reduce methane emissions, a new report from the United Nations has found. Despite the growing recognition of methane’s impact on climate change, efforts to track and reduce its emissions are not happening quickly enough to meet global targets.

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, accounts for about 20% of global warming since the Industrial Revolution. Its impact is significant, with a global warming potential 28 times higher than carbon dioxide over a 100-year time frame. The U.N. report emphasizes that reducing methane emissions is crucial to limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Several international programs and agencies, including the U.N.’s International Methane Budget and the Global Methane Hub, are working to track and reduce methane emissions worldwide. These initiatives aim to provide accurate and timely data on methane emissions, identify areas of high emission concentrations, and support countries in developing effective reduction strategies.

However, the U.N. report reveals that the pace of progress is slow. Many countries have pledged to reduce their methane emissions, but concrete actions and implementation are lagging behind. The report calls for accelerated action, urging governments, industries, and civil society to work together to rapidly deploy methane-reducing technologies and implement effective policies.

The report highlights the need for increased support and cooperation to achieve the goals set out in the Global Methane Pledge, which aims to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030. To achieve this target, countries must quickly scale up their efforts to track and reduce methane emissions, leveraging existing technologies and best practices.

The U.N. report serves as a wake-up call for governments, industries, and civil society to take immediate action to address the methane challenge. With the climate crisis intensifying, the world cannot afford to delay in reducing methane emissions and transitioning to a more sustainable, low-carbon future.