Beyond Carbon: Why Methane Matters

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Beyond Carbon: Why Methane Matters

29 April 2024 / Article

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To facilitate your understanding of the crucial issue of methane emissions, The Conference Board has compiled five concise briefs in its “Tackling Methane” series.

Brief: Beyond Carbon: Why Methane Matters Methane, the main component of natural gas, is responsible for roughly 30% of the increase in average global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution. Since it is more potent as a warming agent than CO₂, reducing methane emissions would significantly aid net-zero efforts. Reducing leaks and inefficiencies in energy and other supply chains would also be profitable for businesses.
Part 2: Tackling Methane: Global Regulatory Developments The EU, US, and other economies have adopted the global methane pledge and expanded a regulatory framework with the intent to reduce methane emissions. In the coming years, businesses will have to deal with tighter standards and oversight, as well as some financial disincentives.
Part 3: Tackling Methane: Oil and Gas Methane emissions from the oil and gas sector are largely attributed to venting and methane leaks. Investments in greater efficiencies and infrastructure could pay for themselves in the short term if methane is captured and sold.
Part 4: Tackling Methane: Food, Agriculture, and Waste Farming and raising livestock contribute significant amounts of methane emissions, and agricultural processes and consumer demand will have to change to reduce emissions. Improving the management of organic waste can also meaningfully create positive impacts.
Part 5: Tackling Methane: Technology Solutions Tackling methane emissions relies on better accounting and monitoring of emission patterns and spotting super emitters worldwide. Improved technologies such as satellite tracking have recently been leveraged to achieve greater awareness and, ultimately, methane emission reductions.

More on this topic from The Conference Board:

Please sign in and click the "Download Report" button above to see all five briefs.

To facilitate your understanding of the crucial issue of methane emissions, The Conference Board has compiled five concise briefs in its “Tackling Methane” series.

Brief: Beyond Carbon: Why Methane Matters Methane, the main component of natural gas, is responsible for roughly 30% of the increase in average global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution. Since it is more potent as a warming agent than CO₂, reducing methane emissions would significantly aid net-zero efforts. Reducing leaks and inefficiencies in energy and other supply chains would also be profitable for businesses.
Part 2: Tackling Methane: Global Regulatory Developments The EU, US, and other economies have adopted the global methane pledge and expanded a regulatory framework with the intent to reduce methane emissions. In the coming years, businesses will have to deal with tighter standards and oversight, as well as some financial disincentives.
Part 3: Tackling Methane: Oil and Gas Methane emissions from the oil and gas sector are largely attributed to venting and methane leaks. Investments in greater efficiencies and infrastructure could pay for themselves in the short term if methane is captured and sold.
Part 4: Tackling Methane: Food, Agriculture, and Waste Farming and raising livestock contribute significant amounts of methane emissions, and agricultural processes and consumer demand will have to change to reduce emissions. Improving the management of organic waste can also meaningfully create positive impacts.
Part 5: Tackling Methane: Technology Solutions Tackling methane emissions relies on better accounting and monitoring of emission patterns and spotting super emitters worldwide. Improved technologies such as satellite tracking have recently been leveraged to achieve greater awareness and, ultimately, methane emission reductions.

More on this topic from The Conference Board:

Authors

Alexander Heil, PhD

Alexander Heil, PhD

Senior Economist
The Conference Board

Ioannis Siskos

Senior Research Fellow, Governance & Sustainabilit…
The Conference Board

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