Closing the Gap

Strengthening the Global Methane Pledge with a blueprint for effective governance.

Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas (GHG), in excess of 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year period. About 60 per cent of methane emissions come from human activities in the agriculture (40 per cent), energy (35 per cent) and waste sectors (20 per cent).

The reduction of global methane emissions is critical to keeping global heating within 1.5°C and preventing climate tipping points from irreversibly changing the planet’s climate system. Without mitigation, methane emissions from all three sectors are projected to continue to increase steadily, by up to 150 per cent of 2010 emissions in 2100.