COP29: Governments, industry must stop ‘lip-service’ on methane and slash emissions immediately, says UNEP
2024-11-15 12:00
Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt – Governments and industry must stop paying lip-service to methane emissions and take immediate action to slash them, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has said.
In a new report released today at the COP29 climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, UNEP warns that methane emissions are a major threat to global climate goals, and that urgent action is needed to reduce them.
“Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is 28 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at warming the planet,” said Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director. “It is also a short-lived climate pollutant, which means that we can see benefits from reducing methane emissions quickly.”
The report finds that methane emissions are currently responsible for about 30% of global warming. The majority of these emissions come from human activities, such as agriculture, waste management, and fossil fuel production.
UNEP is calling on governments and industry to take a number of steps to reduce methane emissions, including:
- Improving the efficiency of natural gas infrastructure. This can be done by replacing old, leaky pipes, and by using new technologies to reduce emissions from gas production and transportation.
- Reducing methane emissions from agriculture. This can be done by improving manure management practices, and by using feed additives that reduce methane production in livestock.
- Capturing and using methane from waste. This can be done by using anaerobic digesters to break down organic waste and produce biogas, which can then be used for energy or transportation.
UNEP is also calling for governments to develop national methane reduction plans, and to set clear targets for reducing methane emissions.
“We have the knowledge and the technology to reduce methane emissions,” said Andersen. “What we need now is political will and commitment from governments and industry.”
The COP29 climate conference is taking place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, from November 6-18. The conference is bringing together governments, businesses, and civil society groups to discuss how to tackle the climate crisis.
COP29: Governments, industry must stop ‘lip-service’ on methane and slash emissions, says UNEP
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