Australian Targets

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Over 100 countries sign on to Global Methane Pledge launched at COP26



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:

  1. Albania
  2. Andorra
  3. Argentina
  4. Armenia
  5. Barbados
  6. Belgium
  7. Belize
  8. Benin
  9. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  10. Brazil
  11. Bulgaria
  12. Burkina Faso
  13. Canada
  14. Central African Republic
  15. Chile
  16. Colombia
  17. Republic of the Congo
  18. Cameroon
  19. Costa Rica
  20. Cote D’Ivoire
  21. Croatia
  22. Cyprus
  23. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  24. Denmark
  25. Djibouti
  26. Dominican Republic
  27. Ecuador
  28. El Salvador
  29. Estonia
  30. Ethiopia
  31. Federated States of Micronesia
  32. Fiji
  33. Finland
  34. France
  35. Gabon
  36. Gambia
  37. Georgia
  38. Germany
  39. Ghana
  40. Greece
  41. Grenada
  42. Guatemala
  43. Guyana
  44. Honduras
  45. Iceland
  46. Indonesia
  47. Iraq
  48. Ireland
  49. Israel
  50. Italy
  51. Jamaica
  52. Japan
  53. Jordan
  54. Korea
  55. Kyrgyzstan
  56. Kuwait
  57. Liberia
  58. Libya
  59. Luxembourg
  60. Malawi
  61. Mali
  62. Malta
  63. Marshall Islands
  64. Mexico
  65. Monaco
  66. Montenegro
  67. Morocco 
  68. Nauru
  69. Netherlands
  70. Nepal
  71. New Zealand
  72. Nigeria
  73. North Macedonia
  74. Nuie
  75. Norway
  76. Pakistan
  77. Palau
  78. Panama
  79. Papua New Guinea
  80. Peru
  81. Philippines
  82. Portugal
  83. Rwanda
  84. Saudi Arabia
  85. Senegal
  86. Serbia
  87. Singapore
  88. Slovenia
  89. Spain
  90. St. Kitts & Nevis
  91. Suriname
  92. Sweden
  93. Switzerland
  94. Togo
  95. Tonga
  96. Tunisia
  97. Ukraine
  98. United Arab Emirates
  99. United Kingdom
  100. Uruguay
  101. Vanuatu
  102. Vietnam
  103. Zambia

References

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