Global Methane Status Report 2025

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• The Global Methane Status Report released by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) at COP30 in Belem.

Key Points of the Report

• Methane Emissions Rising: Despite stronger waste regulations and improved monitoring, global trends remain far short of the target to cut methane by 30% by 2030.
• Potency and Impact: Methane is around 80 times more powerful than CO₂ over a 20-year timescale, accounting for approximately one-third of current warming.
• Methane Emissions: India emitted about 31 million tonnes of methane in 2020, accounting for 9% of global emissions. It contributes 12% of global agricultural methane—the highest share worldwide.
• Agriculture Profile: Livestock (enteric fermentation) is the largest source, followed by rice cultivation, which is projected to increase by 8% in emissions by 2030. Crop residue burning is rising, making India a global hotspot.

About Methane

• It is a short-lived climate pollutant (12-year atmospheric lifetime).
• It is 80–84 times more potent than CO₂ over 20 years, and 28–34 times over 100 years.
• Main Sources Globally: Agriculture (40%), energy (35%), and waste (20%).

Initiatives to Curb Methane Pollution

Global Initiatives:

• Global Methane Pledge (GMP), 2021:
  • Voluntary international framework to reduce methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
  • Launched at COP26 by the US, EU, and Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).
  • India has not signed the pledge.
• International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) – UNEP
  • Global scientific and monitoring system using satellite and ground data.
  • Detects, verifies, and reports methane emissions.
  • Focuses on oil & gas operations, coal mines, landfills.
• Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0):
  • UN-led framework for companies to measure and reduce methane leaks.
  • Covers approximately 70% of global oil and gas operations.

India’s Initiatives:

• National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA):
  • Promotes climate-resilient and low-emission agriculture.
  • Focus on soil health, water efficiency, and crop diversification, indirectly reducing methane.
• Technologies & Practices to Reduce Methane from Rice Agriculture
  • System of Rice Intensification (SRI): Reduces flooding and anaerobic decomposition, lowering methane by 30–70%.
• Waste Sector Initiatives:
  • Swachh Bharat Mission and Solid Waste Management Rules (2016) improve landfill design, promote biomethanation and composting.

Source: TH