Global Methane Pledge

• The Global Methane Pledge was launched at the ongoing UN COP-26 climate conference in Glasgow. So far, over 90 countries have signed this pledge, which is an effort jointly led by the United States and the European Union. The pledge was first announced in September.

• One of the central aims of this agreement is to cut down methane emissions by up to 30 per cent from 2020 levels by the year 2030. Methane is the second-most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere after carbon dioxide. Henceforth, the pledge related to bringing down methane issue is a significant step.

• According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, methane accounts for about half of the 1.0 degrees Celsius net rise in global average temperature since the pre-industrial era.

• Rapidly reducing methane emissions is complementary to action on carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and is regarded as the single most effective strategy to reduce global warming in the near term and keep the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach.

• There are various sources of methane including human and natural sources. Human sources of methane include landfills, oil and natural gas systems, agricultural activities, coal mining, wastewater treatment, and certain industrial processes.