Well over 100 nations have joined the pledge said United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry in articulating that reduction in the powerful greenhouse gas could prevent 0.2C of warming from being locked in by 2050.
"Countries coming in to the pledge in the last hour. We are now up to 105 countries" says John Kerry.
Methane is is very powerful greenhouse gas, and it is one of the gases we can reduce quickly.
President Joe Biden said "One of the most important things you can do this decade is to keep 1.5 degrees within reach, is to reduce our methane emissions as quickly as possible. It amounts to about half the warming we are experiencing today. Just methane."
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, highlighted the need to measure the methane problem, and hence importance of establishing the International Methane Emissions Observatory.
The International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) was launched at the G20 Summit, on the eve of the COP26 UN climate conference in Glasgow. IMEO will bring global reporting on methane emissions to an entirely different level, ensuring public transparency on anthropogenic methane emissions. IMEO will initially focus on methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector, and then expand to other major emitting sectors like agriculture and waste.
Justin Trudeau said that Canada becomes the first country to answer the IEA call to reduce methane emissions by 75 percent.
Speakers included:
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
John Kerry, US Presidential Envoy on Climate
President Alberto Fernández from Argentina will also implement this pledge.
President Moon from South Korea.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam
President Iván Duque Márquez of Columbia
Mohamed al-Menfi, Chairman of the Presidential Council of the State of Libya
Guillermo Lasso, President of Ecuador
Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Republic of the Congo
Fatih Birol Executive Director, International Energy Agency
Australia absent on methane.
This was a perfect issue for Australia to participate and be a leader on. But National Party politics have stymied climate action in Australia on reducing methane emissions. This is despite excellent research by CSIRO on reducing ruminant methane through seaweed feed additives for the agriculture sector.
But the real issue and trend for Australia has been the rising methane emissions from coal and gas production and transport. There are technical ways to reduce perhaps up to 75 percent of these emissions, which could be done at no net cost, according to the International Energy Agency.
Australia's inability to grapple on the methane issue is typified in the debate between Barnaby Joyce and Mike Cannon-Brookes.
Angus Taylor, Malcolm Turnbull on the methane pledge
Journalist: At a door stop in Glasgow Energy Minister was asked why we had not signed the pledge. He responded that Australia was not setting sector specific targets or gas specific targets. "Our focus is whole economy, all gases. That's our goal. Net zero goal for the whole economy by 2050."
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was outside the Australia pavillion at COP26 and said, "It's a pity, we should be. We have got to cut all greenhouse gas emissions, methane and carbon dioxide."
"We can't keep on pretending this is a problem we can push out into the future. We are living with the reality of global warming now. We have got to stop burning coal and gas. We have got to reduce methane emissions. This is a crisis."
"Australia right here at this COP, its position is very disappointing."
"Look at the Australia stand. You have a gas company highlighted, apparently at the insistence of the Energy Minister who thinks that our Energy policy should be all about burning gas. I mean, it's a joke!."
Journalist: A spokeperson for Angus Taylor said the four Australian companies that were participating in Australia's showcase were involved in emerging technologies and practical action on climate change. In Glasgow this is Steve Kinane reporting for AM. -
Watch below the short presentation by Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency:
Media Release - US Department of State, NOVEMBER 2, 2021
United States, European Union, and Partners Formally Launch Global Methane Pledge to Keep 1.5C Within Reach
Today, the United States, the European Union, and partners formally launched the Global Methane Pledge, an initiative to reduce global methane emissions to keep the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach. A total of over 100 countries representing 70% of the global economy and nearly half of anthropogenic methane emissions have now signed onto the pledge.
The strong global support for the Pledge illustrates growing momentum to swiftly reduce methane emissions—widely regarded as the single most effective strategy to reduce global warming. Countries joining the Global Methane Pledge commit to a collective goal of reducing global methane emissions by at least 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030 and moving towards using best available inventory methodologies to quantify methane emissions, with a particular focus on high emission sources. The countries who have joined the Pledge represent all regions of the world and include representatives from developed and developing nations.
The U.S. and EU are also proud to announce a significant expansion of financial and technical support to assist implementation of the Pledge. Global philanthropies have committed $328 million in funding to support scale up of these types of methane mitigation strategies worldwide. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, and the Green Climate Fund have committed to support the Pledge through both technical assistance and project finance. The International Energy Agency will also serve as an implementation partner.
Delivering on the Global Methane Pledge would reduce warming by at least 0.2 degrees Celsius by 2050, providing a crucial foundation for global climate change mitigation efforts. In addition, according to the Global Methane Assessment from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), achieving the 2030 goal would prevent over 200,000 premature deaths, hundreds of thousands of asthma-related emergency room visits, and over 20 million tons of crop losses a year by 2030.
The supporters of the Global Methane Pledge include the U.S., the EU, and the following 103 countries:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Canada
- Central African Republic
- Chile
- Colombia
- Republic of the Congo
- Cameroon
- Costa Rica
- Cote D’Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Korea
- Kyrgyzstan
- Kuwait
- Liberia
- Libya
- Luxembourg
- Malawi
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- Nepal
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- North Macedonia
- Nuie
- Norway
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Peru
- Philippines
- Portugal
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovenia
- Spain
- St. Kitts & Nevis
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tunisia
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Vietnam
- Zambia
- Patrick Wintour, The Guardian, November 2, 2021, Biden to unveil pledge to slash global methane emissions by 30% https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/02/joe-biden-plan-cut-global-methane-emissions-30-percent
- Press release 31 October 2021, Brussels, International Methane Emissions Observatory launched to boost action on powerful climate-warming gas https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_21_5636
- US Department of State, Nvember 2, 2021, United States, European Union, and Partners Formally Launch Global Methane Pledge to Keep 1.5C Within Reach https://www.state.gov/united-states-european-union-and-partners-formally-launch-global-methane-pledge-to-keep-1-5c-within-reach/
- ABC Radio - AM program, 3 November, 2021 Australia refuses to sign methane reduction pledge https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/australia-refuses-to-sign-methane-reduction-pledge/13606366
- Climate Citizen,September 28, 2021. Global Methane Pledge aims for 30 percent methane emissions cut from 2020 levels by 2030 https://takvera.blogspot.com/2021/09/global-methane-pledge-aims-for-30.html
No comments:
Post a Comment