26-September-2024-Editorial

METHANE EMISSIONS AND THEIR IMPACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Methane (CH₄) emissions are rapidly increasing and pose a significant threat to achieving the climate targets set by the Paris Agreement.

While carbon dioxide (CO₂) has long dominated climate discussions, methane—a much more powerful greenhouse gas (GHG)—is increasingly becoming a focal point. Tackling methane emissions offers a potential path for fast-tracking climate progress due to its high impact on global warming.

The Climate Impact of Methane Emissions

• Methane’s Potency: Methane is approximately 80 times more potent than CO₂ as a greenhouse gas over a 20-year period. It is responsible for about 30% of global warming since the industrial revolution.
• Short Atmospheric Lifespan: Unlike CO₂, which can remain in the atmosphere for centuries, methane stays for only 7 to 12 years. This means that efforts to reduce methane emissions could have a quick and noticeable effect on slowing climate change.
• Reduction Potential: Cutting methane emissions by 45% by 2030 can significantly aid in limiting global warming to 1.5°C, the goal of the Paris Agreement.
• Mitigation Effect: Reducing methane emissions can help rapidly mitigate global warming, making methane a critical element in climate strategies aimed at maintaining safe temperature levels.
• Air Quality Concerns: Methane is a precursor to ground-level ozone, a harmful air pollutant that exacerbates respiratory problems. Reducing methane emissions would therefore also improve air quality.

Major Sources of Methane Emissions

• Energy Sector: Methane emissions from the energy sector arise primarily from the extraction, processing, and transportation of oil, gas, and coal.
• Agriculture: Livestock (due to enteric fermentation) and rice cultivation are the primary contributors to methane emissions in the agricultural sector.
• Waste Management: Landfills and waste treatment processes release significant quantities of methane into the atmosphere.
• Global Contribution: Human activities account for approximately 60% of methane emissions, while the remaining 40% comes from natural sources. Agriculture is the largest human-caused source, followed by the energy sector.

Global Initiatives to Curb Methane Emissions

Global Methane Pledge (GMP)

• Launched during CoP26 in 2021, the Global Methane Pledge aims to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
• The initiative, led by the US and EU, now has 158 participating countries, collectively representing over 50% of global anthropogenic methane emissions.
• India has chosen not to join the Global Methane Pledge.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

• UNEP spearheads programs such as the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) and the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership, which monitor and reduce methane emissions from energy, agriculture, and waste sectors.

International Energy Agency (IEA)

• The IEA’s Global Methane Tracker provides a comprehensive tool for tracking methane emissions from the energy sector, helping to identify key areas for reduction.

Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)

• The CCAC supports countries in developing and implementing policies aimed at reducing methane emissions across various sectors.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

• The IPCC emphasizes methane reduction as a critical measure to meet global climate targets and provides guidelines for integrating methane reduction strategies into national climate policies.

Why India Chose Not to Sign the Global Methane Pledge

• Agricultural Livelihoods: Methane emissions in India primarily stem from livestock digestion (enteric fermentation) and rice cultivation, which are essential practices for small and marginal farmers. Reducing emissions from these sectors could negatively impact the livelihoods of millions of farmers.
• Food Security: As one of the world’s largest producers of rice, India’s food security and export markets could be threatened by efforts to reduce methane emissions from rice cultivation.
• CO₂ as a Priority: India argues that the focus should remain on CO₂, which has a far longer atmospheric lifespan and is the primary driver of long-term climate change. The shift toward methane, with its shorter lifespan, could undermine CO₂ reduction efforts.
• Sovereign Climate Strategy: India’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), do not specify targets for individual sectors, allowing flexibility in choosing its climate actions based on national priorities. The Indian government has determined that signing the Global Methane Pledge would not align with its strategic interests.

India’s Efforts to Reduce Methane Emissions

International Climate Agreements

• India is a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), its Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement, all of which aim to mitigate GHG emissions, including methane.

National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)

• NMSA promotes climate-resilient agricultural practices, including methods to reduce methane emissions in rice cultivation.

National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has introduced technologies such as:

• System of Rice Intensification (SRI): Enhances rice yield by 36-49% while using 22-35% less water, thus lowering methane emissions.
• Direct Seeded Rice (DSR): This method eliminates the need for puddling and transplanting, significantly reducing methane emissions from rice paddies.
• Crop Diversification: Encourages shifting from rice cultivation to crops like pulses, oilseeds, and maize, which produce lower methane emissions.

Livestock Initiatives

• The National Livestock Mission promotes breed improvement, balanced feeding, and green fodder production, all of which help reduce methane emissions from livestock.
• The Gobardhan Scheme (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) and the New National Biogas and Organic Manure Programme incentivize the use of cattle waste for clean energy production and organic manure, reducing methane emissions from livestock waste.

Conclusion

Methane emissions are a critical focus in the global fight against climate change, given the gas’s high potency and relatively short lifespan. While India has opted out of the Global Methane Pledge due to concerns over its agricultural sector and food security, it is implementing its own strategies to reduce methane emissions. These initiatives, ranging from agricultural innovations to waste management and livestock practices, are aimed at achieving sustainable climate solutions while protecting the livelihoods of millions of farmers.