What You Need to Know About Methane
- Methane (CH4), the primary component of natural gas, is responsible for more than 25 per cent of the warming we are experiencing today. (IPCC)
- Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, with a Global Warming Potential more than 80 times greater than that of carbon dioxide (CO2) during the 20 years after it is released into the atmosphere.
- Methane is responsible for around half of the growth in tropospheric ozone formation, a dangerous air pollutant. (UNEP)
- The European Union, the United States and Partners have launched the Global Methane Pledge to champion methane mitigation in the short-term. Over 100 countries representing 70% of the global economy have now joined the Pledge and committed to reducing global methane emissions by at least 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030.
- The 1.5°C target cannot be achieved without reducing methane emissions by 40-45% by 2030. Reduction of this magnitude would avoid nearly 0.3° C of warming by 2045 and complement long-term climate change mitigation efforts. (CCAC)
Let's explore world methane emissions and find if there is a correlation between countries' GDP and amount of greenhouse gas (methane) they release.
