Methane emissions worldwide - statistics & facts
Methane is the second most important contributor to climate change. Accounting for roughly 20 percent of human-caused GHG emissions, methane has a global warming potential 80 times more powerful than CO₂ over a 20-year period, and is estimated to have contributed to 30 percent of global warming since pre-industrial times. With the concentration of methane in the atmosphere now more than 2.5 times higher than in pre-industrial times, the race is on to curb the rapid growth of this short-lived but powerful climate pollutant.
Experts have struggled to explain why methane levels are rising so quickly, owing to the many different processes and sources that produce the gas. However, many point the finger toward rising methane emissions from wetlands caused by rising global temperatures.
Ways in which emissions can be addressed include improving agricultural practices, such as through better land and water management, as well as preventing gas leakage during fossil fuel production. Advanced technology is being used to address fugitive emissions, with monitoring methods like satellites capable of detecting methane leaks anywhere on earth. Methane abatement finance has also increased somewhat, though it still falls well short of the 48 billion U.S. dollars required annually by 2030.
The world is waking up to the impacts of methane. However, despite a flurry of new policies and commitments, methane emissions are still rising rapidly and continue to break new records. As such, more urgent action will be needed to curb the growth of this powerful driver of climate change.
Methane emissions are rising rapidly
Global anthropogenic methane emissions have risen by 30 percent since the turn of the century to a record high of 10 GtCO2e in 2023. That year saw the globally-averaged mean atmospheric methane abundance also hit a new high, of 1,922 parts per billion (ppb). Atmospheric methane levels plateaued between 1999 and 2006, but they have since surged. The annual growth rate of methane has accelerated in recent years. The annual growth rate in 2020 had been the largest on record, at 15 ppb. However, this was exceeded the following year, when methane levels increased by 18 ppb year-on-year.Experts have struggled to explain why methane levels are rising so quickly, owing to the many different processes and sources that produce the gas. However, many point the finger toward rising methane emissions from wetlands caused by rising global temperatures.
Where does methane come from?
Methane emissions come from both anthropogenic and natural sources, with wetlands the largest overall contributor. However, human-activities, such as farming, fossil fuel production, and landfill sites, account for around two-thirds of total global methane emissions. Agriculture is the largest source of anthropogenic methane emissions , with emissions from this sector primarily coming from livestock, particularly enteric fermentation in cattle, which releases methane as a by-product. Another major source of methane is the oil and gas industry, which releases roughly 80 million tons of methane each year from activities like flaring and venting, as well as through fugitive emissions, i.e. unintentional leaks.Combatting methane emissions
The concerning and continuing rise in methane emissions has seen number of countries including methane in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) double since 2016, to more than 180. A growing number of new policies and measures related to methane abatement have also been introduced in recent years. One of the most well-known is the U.S./EU-led Global Methane Pledge, whose participants agreed to contribute to a collective effort to reduce global anthropogenic methane emissions by at least 30 per cent from 2020 levels by 2030. However, some of the world’s biggest methane emitters, including China, India, and Russia, are yet to join the pledge.Ways in which emissions can be addressed include improving agricultural practices, such as through better land and water management, as well as preventing gas leakage during fossil fuel production. Advanced technology is being used to address fugitive emissions, with monitoring methods like satellites capable of detecting methane leaks anywhere on earth. Methane abatement finance has also increased somewhat, though it still falls well short of the 48 billion U.S. dollars required annually by 2030.
The world is waking up to the impacts of methane. However, despite a flurry of new policies and commitments, methane emissions are still rising rapidly and continue to break new records. As such, more urgent action will be needed to curb the growth of this powerful driver of climate change.
