The UN climate negotiations in the UAE are anticipated to involve extensive discussions on methane, the second-most potent greenhouse gas with higher warming potential than carbon dioxide.
Both the United States and the European Union have underscored the need for immediate measures on methane, responsible for approximately 30% of global warming since pre-industrial times (1850-1900).
As hosts of this year’s climate talks (COP28), the UAE is poised to declare a commitment from major oil and gas companies to mitigate methane leakage.
In 2021, the EU and the US jointly initiated the “Global Methane Pledge” with the aim of reducing global methane emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels.
Approximately 150 countries have endorsed the pledge, but major emitters like China, India, and Russia have yet to join.
Recently, the US and China, the top two carbon emitters globally, committed to incorporating methane reduction in their 2035 national emission plans.
While this marks China’s first such commitment, it lacks a specific target. Some experts suggest that this development might influence India to consider similar actions.
However, India, a significant methane emitter, particularly from agriculture, maintains that addressing emissions requires complex changes and financial resources that the country currently cannot afford.
