Tue Sep 10 16:22:00 UTC 2024: ## Methane Levels Soaring, Climate Change Accelerating: New Study
A new study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals alarming trends in methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, significantly accelerating climate change. The research, led by Rob Jackson of the Global Carbon Project, found that global methane emissions reached 670 million tons in 2020, an increase of nearly 12% since 2000.
The study highlights a concerning trend: human-caused methane emissions have surged almost 18% in the past two decades, while natural emissions increased by only 2%. This indicates that human activities are the primary driver of the dramatic rise in methane levels.
Methane concentrations in the atmosphere are now 2.6 times higher than pre-industrial levels, and continue to soar despite a period of plateauing in the early 2000s.
“Methane is a climate menace that the world is ignoring,” stated Jackson. “Methane has risen far more and much faster than carbon dioxide.” While carbon dioxide remains the dominant greenhouse gas, methane’s rapid increase is a major concern.
The study identifies key sources of human-caused methane emissions: fossil fuel burning, large-scale agriculture, and landfills. Cows, in particular, are highlighted as a major contributor.
The study also reveals that geographic increases in methane emissions are occurring everywhere except Europe, with significant jumps in Asia, particularly China and India.
Despite international pledges to address methane emissions, the study paints a grim picture. Jackson warns that current trends place the world on track for a 3-degree Celsius increase in global temperatures, double the target set by the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.
Scientists emphasize the urgency of tackling methane emissions, highlighting its rapid impact on climate change and the potential for relatively quick benefits from reducing it.
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