The Program of United Nations for the Environment (UNEP) launched today, within the framework of the G20 summit in Rome, the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO), an entity that will promote actions to reduce emissions of this greenhouse gas “responsible for at least a quarter of the climate change actual”.
The IMEO, which is also supported by the European Commission (EC), “will improve reporting accuracy and public transparency of man-made methane emissions” and will focus initially on the fossil fuel sector and later be extended “to other important sectors such as agriculture and waste,” explained UNEP in a statement.
The UN body recalled that “methane released directly into the atmosphere is more than 80 times more powerful than C02 in a 20-year horizon”, but that given the short atmospheric life of this gas (10 to 12 years) , reducing their emissions “may produce the most immediate reduction in the rate of warming.”
The executive director of UNEP, Inger Andersen, warned that to “avoid the worst effects of climate change” it is necessary to “cut methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry.”
“Methane reductions must be accompanied by actions to decarbonize the energy system to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius as called for in the Paris Agreement,” he added.
The new observatory will produce a public database on methane emissions, starting with the fossil fuel sector, which will allow governments and companies to “focus strategic mitigation actions and support science-based measures.”
According to a recent study by UNEP and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, reducing anthropogenic methane emissions and other proven measures “could cut 0.28 degrees from the increase in the average temperature of the planet projected for 2050.”
The IMEO has a funding of 100 million euros for five years, which will be provided by governments and philanthropists, as well as by the EC as a founding member, and “will not receive funding from the industry” to “maintain its independence and credibility.”
.
Ricardo is a renowned author and journalist, known for his exceptional writing on top-news stories. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he is known for his ability to deliver breaking news and insightful analysis on the most pressing issues of the day.
