COP29: Governments, Industry Must Stop ‘Lip-Service’ on Methane and Slash Emissions, Says UNEP
Date: 2024-11-15 12:00
Source: Top Stories
Author: Not mentioned in the provided text.
Summary:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has issued a stern warning about the urgency of reducing methane emissions, stressing that governments, industry, and other stakeholders must move beyond “lip-service” and implement concrete actions. This call was made in the lead-up to the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), scheduled for November 2024.
Key Points:
- Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 28-86 times higher than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.
- Human activities, such as fossil fuel extraction, livestock production, and waste management, contribute significantly to methane emissions.
- Reducing methane emissions can provide substantial climate benefits and contribute to achieving the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
- The UNEP report highlights that while there has been progress in recognizing the importance of methane reductions, many commitments and pledges made by governments and industry remain unfulfilled.
- UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen emphasizes that it is time for all sectors to “stop the lip-service” and take decisive action to cut methane emissions.
Actions Required:
The UNEP report outlines several key actions that governments, industry, and other stakeholders must prioritize to achieve significant methane reductions:
- Governments:
- Implement policies and regulations that incentivize methane mitigation.
- Promote research, innovation, and investment in low-methane technologies.
- Support international cooperation and collaboration on methane reduction efforts.
- Industry:
- Implement methane abatement technologies and best practices across all relevant sectors.
- Establish methane reduction targets and report on progress transparently.
- Invest in research and development of innovative methane mitigation solutions.
Other Stakeholders:
The UNEP also calls on financial institutions, investors, and civil society organizations to play a role in driving methane emissions reductions by:
- Supporting methane mitigation projects and initiatives.
- Engaging with companies on methane reduction strategies.
- Raising public awareness about the importance of methane abatement.
Outlook for COP29:
The upcoming COP29 is seen as a critical opportunity for governments and other stakeholders to strengthen their commitments to methane reduction and to adopt concrete measures that will deliver tangible results. The UNEP report sets out a clear roadmap for action and urges all parties to seize this opportunity to make meaningful progress in tackling methane emissions and mitigating climate change.
COP29: Governments, industry must stop ‘lip-service’ on methane and slash emissions, says UNEP
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