The world is facing a critical challenge in the fight against climate change: by 2030, methane gas emissions will increase by 5% compared to 2020 levels.
This was warned on Monday by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Despite international commitments, UNEP projects that 369 million tons annually of methane gas will be reached by 2030 if current trends continue.
The new annual report was launched within the framework of the COP30 climate summit currently being held in Belém, Brazil.
The impact on health and the economy of methane gas
The consequences of the projected increase are alarming, as methane gas is highly polluting.
By 2030, there would be almost 24,000 additional premature deaths and an economic impact of 43 billion dollars annually, according to UNEP.
Furthermore, this increase would cause a temperature rise of 0.025 degrees Celsius by 2050.
Although methane gas remains in the atmosphere for less time than carbon dioxide, it has an 80 times greater effect on global warming.
Since the industrial revolution, methane gas has been responsible for a 30% increase in temperatures.
Therefore, its control is now an urgent priority to curb the climate crisis.
Despite the crisis, there are also advances
Despite UNEP seeing it difficult to reduce methane gas in the coming years, the report acknowledges certain progress.
Thanks to new waste management laws passed in Europe and the United States, and a slowdown in the use of natural gas, emissions will be 14 million tons lower than previously estimated.
In this scenario, if countries effectively implemented the targets presented by June 2025, there would be an 8% reduction in 2030 compared to 2020.
This would generate benefits valued at 107 billion dollars per year and prevent a temperature increase of 0.06 degrees Celsius by 2050.
So far, 65% of the nations signing the Paris Agreement have measures against methane in their nationally determined contributions (NDC), an increase of 38% compared to the period before 2020.
However, these efforts are insufficient.
Already 159 countries have committed to cutting emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2020.
The goal is to keep temperature increases below 1.5°, as established by the Paris Agreement.
To reach the 30% target, it will be necessary to increase ambition and implement all possible technical measures in the three most emitting sectors.
“Reducing methane emissions is one of the most immediate and effective steps we can take to slow the climate crisis and protect health,” said Inger Andersen, executive director of UNEP.
The key sectors that produce methane gas
The agricultural sector leads with 42% of methane gas emissions, followed by the energy sector with 38% and waste with 20%.
Today, the total cost of implementing all necessary measures to reduce these amounts would be 127 billion dollars annually.
The measures range from controlling leaks in oil refineries to improvements in cattle productivity and changes in the waste treatment system.
It should be noted that 65% of emissions come from G20 countries, which bring together the world’s most advanced economies.
While China is responsible for 16% of the total, the United States contributes 10%, according to UNEP data.
