Tackling methane emissions key for climate change and energy security: IEA
Summary
The International Energy Agency (IEA) says cutting methane emissions from fossil fuels is important to fight climate change and improve energy security, especially amid tensions in Iran affecting global energy supplies. Methane from oil, gas, and coal makes up about 35% of human-caused methane emissions, but efforts to reduce it have not progressed much.Key Facts
- Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, about 80 times stronger than carbon dioxide over 20 years.
- The fossil fuel industry emits 124 million tonnes of methane yearly: 45 Mt from oil, 43 Mt from coal, and 36 Mt from natural gas.
- An additional 20 Mt comes from burning biomass in heating and cooking, mainly in developing countries.
- The crisis involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has disrupted about 20% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade.
- Cutting methane emissions could free up nearly 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually.
- Eliminating non-emergency flaring (burning off excess gas) could add another 100 billion cubic meters of gas.
- France, as chair of the G7, is pushing governments and industries to reduce methane ahead of the UN climate summit COP31.
- The world is still far from reaching the goal of reducing methane emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels.
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