Global Methane Emissions Reach ‘Record High’ Levels

Global Methane Budget, 2000-2017 (2020), July 15, 2020.

A new consensus update to global methane emissions reveals that atmospheric methane increased by 8.5ppb and 10.7ppb in 2018 and 2019, respectively – two of the highest annual values of the 21^st century. The current concentration of atmospheric methane is more than 2.5 times higher than pre-industrial levels, which places us between the RCP6.0 and RCP8.5 pathways, and corresponds to a GMT increase above 3°C by 2100. Agriculture and fossil fuel extraction accounted for over 50% of the increase; thus far, emissions from permafrost do not appear as a major signal.  Our ability to meet the 1.5-2°C target of the Paris Agreement as regards methane depends largely on efforts in the agriculture, fossil fuel and waste sectors of the global economy, according to the report.

https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/12/1561/2020/

www.globalcarbonproject.org/methanebudget

Compiled by Amy Imdieke