September 10th 2024.
The world is facing a critical issue as the levels of a greenhouse gas, even more potent than carbon dioxide, continue to rise at an alarming rate. This is casting doubts on the effectiveness of the climate change targets that were set in place to prevent a catastrophic event. The latest report by CSIRO, released today, has revealed that methane levels have increased by a staggering 20% in the last two decades. What's even more concerning is that the largest increases have been recorded in recent years.
Methane is one of the three major greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. According to Pep Canadell, the executive director for the Global Carbon Project at CSIRO, the growth rate of methane has been higher in the past three years, with a record high in 2021. This means that the concentration of methane in the atmosphere is 2.6 times higher than it was in pre-industrial times. These findings are alarming, especially considering that the planet experienced its warmest year on record in 2023.
The global surface temperature in 2023 was 1.35 degrees warmer than pre-industrial levels. It is estimated that human-produced methane contributes to about 0.5 degrees of this warming. Agriculture is responsible for around 40% of human-made methane, with cows and other livestock being the main contributors. The fossil fuel industry is responsible for around a third of methane emissions, while human waste makes up another 19%. Cattle farming, in particular, is the biggest contributor to methane emissions, as cows emit large amounts of this noxious gas during their digestion process.
But there is hope for reducing methane emissions. In Australia, efforts to improve animal production efficiency, add seaweed to cows' feed to reduce their methane production, and shift towards animals that emit less methane have all been successful in reducing emissions. However, while Australia and the European Union have made progress in reducing methane output, other nations have gone backwards. China is the world's biggest producer of methane, followed by India, the United States, Brazil, and Russia.
The findings of this report put the success of the Global Methane Pledge in jeopardy. This international commitment aims to reduce methane emissions by 30% from 2019 levels by 2030 and has been signed by 158 nations. However, some major producers like China, India, and Russia have not yet joined this pledge. It is crucial for all nations to come together and take action to reduce methane emissions to prevent a potential climate catastrophe.
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