(C) Common Dreams
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What's the deal with methane? [1]
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Date: 2022-10-18 09:46:00
https://youtu.be/O3aHhhE0E54
Colourless, odourless and invisible to the naked eye, methane is a potent greenhouse gas. It is responsible for more than 25 per cent of the global warming we are experiencing today. Due to its structure, methane traps more heat in the atmosphere per molecule than carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), making it 80 times more harmful than CO 2 for 20 years after it is released.
Cutting methane emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 could help us meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
The energy sector (oil, gas, and coal) releases enormous amounts of methane into the atmosphere. The agriculture sector is also a major emitter, particularly from livestock such as cattle and cultivation of certain foods such as rice. Waste is the third most common man-made source of methane, as bacteria break down organic matter in landfills.
The good news is that since much of the methane release is caused by human activity, its reduction is considered the low hanging fruit of climate mitigation. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is at the forefront of the global effort to cut down on methane emissions.
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[1] Url:
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/video/whats-deal-methane
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