Research: New analysis approach could help boost sensitivity of large telescopes \
5 min read
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Research: New analysis approach could help boost sensitivity of large telescopes

06-Dec-2022
Researchers detail an analysis method that could improve telescopes at the Simons Observatory by evaluating their performance before installation. This is the first time the optical performance of a telescope has been confirmed prior to its deployment.
06-Dec-2022 Science
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Astronomers capture red supergiant’s death throes \
6 min read
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Astronomers capture red supergiant’s death throes

18-Jan-2022
Evanston (Illinois) [US], January 18 (ANI): For the first time ever, astronomers have imaged in real-time the dramatic end to a red supergiant's life -- watching the massive star's rapid self-destruction and final death throes before collapsing into a type II supernova.
18-Jan-2022 Science
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Reducing methane emissions vital for climate action, but not ‘get out of jail free card’ \
5 min read
\
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Reducing methane emissions vital for climate action, but not ‘get out of jail free card’

02-Nov-2021
A new reporting hub to reduce methane emissions – a powerful greenhouse gas responsible for at least a quarter of global warming – was launched on Sunday by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), as the UN Climate Conference (COP26) kicked off in Glasgow.
Supported by the European Union (EU), the (IMEO), the initiative aims to improve the reporting accuracy and public transparency of anthropogenic, or human-caused, methane emissions.
Initially, the Observatory will focus on methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector, before expanding to other major producing sectors, like agriculture and waste. “As highlighted by [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change], if the world is serious about avoiding the worst effects of climate change, we need to cut methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry”, said chief Inger Andersen.

Monstrous methane

Noting that methane released directly into the atmosphere is more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year period, the report upholds the need for the world to cut by 50 per cent, to reach the goal set by the on climate change, of limiting global temperature rise, as close as possible to 1.5°C. However, as the atmospheric lifespan of methane is a relatively short 10 to 12 years, emission-cutting actions can reduce the rate of warming, as it also delivers air quality benefits. According to the recently published , low or zero-net methane reductions could shave 0.28°C from the planet’s forecasted rise in average temperature by 2050, almost halving anthropogenic methane emissions. The Observatory notes that if the world is to achieve the 1.5°C temperature target, it must make deep methane emission reductions. To this end, it outlines how to prioritize actions and monitor commitments made by States in the , a 30-country-strong effort to slash these emissions by 30 per cent, by 2030.

‘Hand-in-hand’ reductions

On the current trajectory, by 2030 greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could reach 1.34 billion tons per year, equivalent to the emissions produced by 300 new 500MW coal-fired power plants.
Climate Visuals Countdown/Abir A
“But this is not a ‘get out of jail free’ card: methane reductions must go hand in hand with actions to decarbonize the energy system to limit warming to 1.5°C”, said Ms. Andersen. As the fossil fuel industry is responsible for , it is the sector with the highest potential for reductions. Wasted methane, the main component in natural gas, is a valuable source of energy that could be used to fuel power plants or homes.

Emission data sharing

Beginning with the fossil fuel sector, the Observatory will produce a global public dataset of verified methane emissions. This will be done by integrating information principally from the 2.0 (OGMP 2.0), scientific studies, remote sensing data, and national inventories. IMEO will then share this data with companies and Governments globally to utilize for their own strategic mitigation actions.

Trusted data

Methane reductions must go hand in hand with actions to decarbonize the energy system -- UNEP chief
Data collected through OGMP 2.0 – launched last November in the framework of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, in which UN agencies are partners – are of critical importance, said UNEP. OGMP 2.0 is the only comprehensive, measurement-based reporting framework for the oil and gas sector, and its 74-member companies represent many of the world’s largest operators, with assets that account for over 30 per cent of all oil and gas production. In its first published report, IMEO spells out the need for an independent and trusted entity to integrate multiple sources of data. The report also includes an analysis submitted by OGMP 2.0 companies, where most outlined ambitious 2025 reduction targets. Out of the 55 companies that set goals, 30 meet or exceeded the recommended targets of 45 per cent reduction or near-zero methane intensity, and 51 have submitted plan. To maintain its independence and credibility, IMEO will receive no industry financing, but instead be entirely funded by Governments and philanthropies, with core resources provided by the European Commission as a founding member.
A thermal power plant in Port Louis, Mauritius is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions on the Indian Ocean island.
UNDP Mauritius/Stéphane Bellero
A thermal power plant in Port Louis, Mauritius is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions on the Indian Ocean island.
02-Nov-2021 United Nations
\
Reducing methane emissions vital for climate action, but not ‘get out of jail free card’ \
5 min read
\
\

Reducing methane emissions vital for climate action, but not ‘get out of jail free card’

02-Nov-2021
A new reporting hub to reduce methane emissions – a powerful greenhouse gas responsible for at least a quarter of global warming – was launched on Sunday by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), as the UN Climate Conference (COP26) kicked off in Glasgow.
Supported by the European Union (EU), the (IMEO), the initiative aims to improve the reporting accuracy and public transparency of anthropogenic, or human-caused, methane emissions.
Initially, the Observatory will focus on methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector, before expanding to other major producing sectors, like agriculture and waste. “As highlighted by [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change], if the world is serious about avoiding the worst effects of climate change, we need to cut methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry”, said chief Inger Andersen.

Monstrous methane

Noting that methane released directly into the atmosphere is more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year period, the report upholds the need for the world to cut by 50 per cent, to reach the goal set by the on climate change, of limiting global temperature rise, as close as possible to 1.5°C. However, as the atmospheric lifespan of methane is a relatively short 10 to 12 years, emission-cutting actions can reduce the rate of warming, as it also delivers air quality benefits. According to the recently published , low or zero-net methane reductions could shave 0.28°C from the planet’s forecasted rise in average temperature by 2050, almost halving anthropogenic methane emissions. The Observatory notes that if the world is to achieve the 1.5°C temperature target, it must make deep methane emission reductions. To this end, it outlines how to prioritize actions and monitor commitments made by States in the , a 30-country-strong effort to slash these emissions by 30 per cent, by 2030.

‘Hand-in-hand’ reductions

On the current trajectory, by 2030 greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could reach 1.34 billion tons per year, equivalent to the emissions produced by 300 new 500MW coal-fired power plants.
Climate Visuals Countdown/Abir A
“But this is not a ‘get out of jail free’ card: methane reductions must go hand in hand with actions to decarbonize the energy system to limit warming to 1.5°C”, said Ms. Andersen. As the fossil fuel industry is responsible for , it is the sector with the highest potential for reductions. Wasted methane, the main component in natural gas, is a valuable source of energy that could be used to fuel power plants or homes.

Emission data sharing

Beginning with the fossil fuel sector, the Observatory will produce a global public dataset of verified methane emissions. This will be done by integrating information principally from the 2.0 (OGMP 2.0), scientific studies, remote sensing data, and national inventories. IMEO will then share this data with companies and Governments globally to utilize for their own strategic mitigation actions.

Trusted data

Methane reductions must go hand in hand with actions to decarbonize the energy system -- UNEP chief
Data collected through OGMP 2.0 – launched last November in the framework of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, in which UN agencies are partners – are of critical importance, said UNEP. OGMP 2.0 is the only comprehensive, measurement-based reporting framework for the oil and gas sector, and its 74-member companies represent many of the world’s largest operators, with assets that account for over 30 per cent of all oil and gas production. In its first published report, IMEO spells out the need for an independent and trusted entity to integrate multiple sources of data. The report also includes an analysis submitted by OGMP 2.0 companies, where most outlined ambitious 2025 reduction targets. Out of the 55 companies that set goals, 30 meet or exceeded the recommended targets of 45 per cent reduction or near-zero methane intensity, and 51 have submitted plan. To maintain its independence and credibility, IMEO will receive no industry financing, but instead be entirely funded by Governments and philanthropies, with core resources provided by the European Commission as a founding member.
A thermal power plant in Port Louis, Mauritius is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions on the Indian Ocean island.
UNDP Mauritius/Stéphane Bellero
A thermal power plant in Port Louis, Mauritius is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions on the Indian Ocean island.
02-Nov-2021 United Nations
\
Reducing methane emissions vital for climate action, but not ‘get out of jail free card’ \
5 min read
\
\

Reducing methane emissions vital for climate action, but not ‘get out of jail free card’

02-Nov-2021
A new reporting hub to reduce methane emissions – a powerful greenhouse gas responsible for at least a quarter of global warming – was launched on Sunday by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), as the UN Climate Conference (COP26) kicked off in Glasgow.
Supported by the European Union (EU), the (IMEO), the initiative aims to improve the reporting accuracy and public transparency of anthropogenic, or human-caused, methane emissions.
Initially, the Observatory will focus on methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector, before expanding to other major producing sectors, like agriculture and waste. “As highlighted by [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change], if the world is serious about avoiding the worst effects of climate change, we need to cut methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry”, said chief Inger Andersen.

Monstrous methane

Noting that methane released directly into the atmosphere is more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year period, the report upholds the need for the world to cut by 50 per cent, to reach the goal set by the on climate change, of limiting global temperature rise, as close as possible to 1.5°C. However, as the atmospheric lifespan of methane is a relatively short 10 to 12 years, emission-cutting actions can reduce the rate of warming, as it also delivers air quality benefits. According to the recently published , low or zero-net methane reductions could shave 0.28°C from the planet’s forecasted rise in average temperature by 2050, almost halving anthropogenic methane emissions. The Observatory notes that if the world is to achieve the 1.5°C temperature target, it must make deep methane emission reductions. To this end, it outlines how to prioritize actions and monitor commitments made by States in the , a 30-country-strong effort to slash these emissions by 30 per cent, by 2030.

‘Hand-in-hand’ reductions

On the current trajectory, by 2030 greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could reach 1.34 billion tons per year, equivalent to the emissions produced by 300 new 500MW coal-fired power plants.
Climate Visuals Countdown/Abir A
“But this is not a ‘get out of jail free’ card: methane reductions must go hand in hand with actions to decarbonize the energy system to limit warming to 1.5°C”, said Ms. Andersen. As the fossil fuel industry is responsible for , it is the sector with the highest potential for reductions. Wasted methane, the main component in natural gas, is a valuable source of energy that could be used to fuel power plants or homes.

Emission data sharing

Beginning with the fossil fuel sector, the Observatory will produce a global public dataset of verified methane emissions. This will be done by integrating information principally from the 2.0 (OGMP 2.0), scientific studies, remote sensing data, and national inventories. IMEO will then share this data with companies and Governments globally to utilize for their own strategic mitigation actions.

Trusted data

Methane reductions must go hand in hand with actions to decarbonize the energy system -- UNEP chief
Data collected through OGMP 2.0 – launched last November in the framework of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, in which UN agencies are partners – are of critical importance, said UNEP. OGMP 2.0 is the only comprehensive, measurement-based reporting framework for the oil and gas sector, and its 74-member companies represent many of the world’s largest operators, with assets that account for over 30 per cent of all oil and gas production. In its first published report, IMEO spells out the need for an independent and trusted entity to integrate multiple sources of data. The report also includes an analysis submitted by OGMP 2.0 companies, where most outlined ambitious 2025 reduction targets. Out of the 55 companies that set goals, 30 meet or exceeded the recommended targets of 45 per cent reduction or near-zero methane intensity, and 51 have submitted plan. To maintain its independence and credibility, IMEO will receive no industry financing, but instead be entirely funded by Governments and philanthropies, with core resources provided by the European Commission as a founding member.
A thermal power plant in Port Louis, Mauritius is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions on the Indian Ocean island.
UNDP Mauritius/Stéphane Bellero
A thermal power plant in Port Louis, Mauritius is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions on the Indian Ocean island.
02-Nov-2021 United Nations
\
Reducing methane emissions vital for climate action, but not ‘get out of jail free card’ \
5 min read
\
\

Reducing methane emissions vital for climate action, but not ‘get out of jail free card’

02-Nov-2021
A new reporting hub to reduce methane emissions – a powerful greenhouse gas responsible for at least a quarter of global warming – was launched on Sunday by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), as the UN Climate Conference (COP26) kicked off in Glasgow.
Supported by the European Union (EU), the (IMEO), the initiative aims to improve the reporting accuracy and public transparency of anthropogenic, or human-caused, methane emissions.
Initially, the Observatory will focus on methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector, before expanding to other major producing sectors, like agriculture and waste. “As highlighted by [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change], if the world is serious about avoiding the worst effects of climate change, we need to cut methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry”, said chief Inger Andersen.

Monstrous methane

Noting that methane released directly into the atmosphere is more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year period, the report upholds the need for the world to cut by 50 per cent, to reach the goal set by the on climate change, of limiting global temperature rise, as close as possible to 1.5°C. However, as the atmospheric lifespan of methane is a relatively short 10 to 12 years, emission-cutting actions can reduce the rate of warming, as it also delivers air quality benefits. According to the recently published , low or zero-net methane reductions could shave 0.28°C from the planet’s forecasted rise in average temperature by 2050, almost halving anthropogenic methane emissions. The Observatory notes that if the world is to achieve the 1.5°C temperature target, it must make deep methane emission reductions. To this end, it outlines how to prioritize actions and monitor commitments made by States in the , a 30-country-strong effort to slash these emissions by 30 per cent, by 2030.

‘Hand-in-hand’ reductions

On the current trajectory, by 2030 greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could reach 1.34 billion tons per year, equivalent to the emissions produced by 300 new 500MW coal-fired power plants.
Climate Visuals Countdown/Abir A
“But this is not a ‘get out of jail free’ card: methane reductions must go hand in hand with actions to decarbonize the energy system to limit warming to 1.5°C”, said Ms. Andersen. As the fossil fuel industry is responsible for , it is the sector with the highest potential for reductions. Wasted methane, the main component in natural gas, is a valuable source of energy that could be used to fuel power plants or homes.

Emission data sharing

Beginning with the fossil fuel sector, the Observatory will produce a global public dataset of verified methane emissions. This will be done by integrating information principally from the 2.0 (OGMP 2.0), scientific studies, remote sensing data, and national inventories. IMEO will then share this data with companies and Governments globally to utilize for their own strategic mitigation actions.

Trusted data

Methane reductions must go hand in hand with actions to decarbonize the energy system -- UNEP chief
Data collected through OGMP 2.0 – launched last November in the framework of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, in which UN agencies are partners – are of critical importance, said UNEP. OGMP 2.0 is the only comprehensive, measurement-based reporting framework for the oil and gas sector, and its 74-member companies represent many of the world’s largest operators, with assets that account for over 30 per cent of all oil and gas production. In its first published report, IMEO spells out the need for an independent and trusted entity to integrate multiple sources of data. The report also includes an analysis submitted by OGMP 2.0 companies, where most outlined ambitious 2025 reduction targets. Out of the 55 companies that set goals, 30 meet or exceeded the recommended targets of 45 per cent reduction or near-zero methane intensity, and 51 have submitted plan. To maintain its independence and credibility, IMEO will receive no industry financing, but instead be entirely funded by Governments and philanthropies, with core resources provided by the European Commission as a founding member.
A thermal power plant in Port Louis, Mauritius is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions on the Indian Ocean island.
UNDP Mauritius/Stéphane Bellero
A thermal power plant in Port Louis, Mauritius is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions on the Indian Ocean island.
02-Nov-2021 United Nations
\
Reducing methane emissions vital for climate action, but not ‘get out of jail free card’ \
5 min read
\
\

Reducing methane emissions vital for climate action, but not ‘get out of jail free card’

02-Nov-2021
A new reporting hub to reduce methane emissions – a powerful greenhouse gas responsible for at least a quarter of global warming – was launched on Sunday by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), as the UN Climate Conference (COP26) kicked off in Glasgow.
Supported by the European Union (EU), the (IMEO), the initiative aims to improve the reporting accuracy and public transparency of anthropogenic, or human-caused, methane emissions.
Initially, the Observatory will focus on methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector, before expanding to other major producing sectors, like agriculture and waste. “As highlighted by [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change], if the world is serious about avoiding the worst effects of climate change, we need to cut methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry”, said chief Inger Andersen.

Monstrous methane

Noting that methane released directly into the atmosphere is more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year period, the report upholds the need for the world to cut by 50 per cent, to reach the goal set by the on climate change, of limiting global temperature rise, as close as possible to 1.5°C. However, as the atmospheric lifespan of methane is a relatively short 10 to 12 years, emission-cutting actions can reduce the rate of warming, as it also delivers air quality benefits. According to the recently published , low or zero-net methane reductions could shave 0.28°C from the planet’s forecasted rise in average temperature by 2050, almost halving anthropogenic methane emissions. The Observatory notes that if the world is to achieve the 1.5°C temperature target, it must make deep methane emission reductions. To this end, it outlines how to prioritize actions and monitor commitments made by States in the , a 30-country-strong effort to slash these emissions by 30 per cent, by 2030.

‘Hand-in-hand’ reductions

On the current trajectory, by 2030 greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could reach 1.34 billion tons per year, equivalent to the emissions produced by 300 new 500MW coal-fired power plants.
Climate Visuals Countdown/Abir A
“But this is not a ‘get out of jail free’ card: methane reductions must go hand in hand with actions to decarbonize the energy system to limit warming to 1.5°C”, said Ms. Andersen. As the fossil fuel industry is responsible for , it is the sector with the highest potential for reductions. Wasted methane, the main component in natural gas, is a valuable source of energy that could be used to fuel power plants or homes.

Emission data sharing

Beginning with the fossil fuel sector, the Observatory will produce a global public dataset of verified methane emissions. This will be done by integrating information principally from the 2.0 (OGMP 2.0), scientific studies, remote sensing data, and national inventories. IMEO will then share this data with companies and Governments globally to utilize for their own strategic mitigation actions.

Trusted data

Methane reductions must go hand in hand with actions to decarbonize the energy system -- UNEP chief
Data collected through OGMP 2.0 – launched last November in the framework of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, in which UN agencies are partners – are of critical importance, said UNEP. OGMP 2.0 is the only comprehensive, measurement-based reporting framework for the oil and gas sector, and its 74-member companies represent many of the world’s largest operators, with assets that account for over 30 per cent of all oil and gas production. In its first published report, IMEO spells out the need for an independent and trusted entity to integrate multiple sources of data. The report also includes an analysis submitted by OGMP 2.0 companies, where most outlined ambitious 2025 reduction targets. Out of the 55 companies that set goals, 30 meet or exceeded the recommended targets of 45 per cent reduction or near-zero methane intensity, and 51 have submitted plan. To maintain its independence and credibility, IMEO will receive no industry financing, but instead be entirely funded by Governments and philanthropies, with core resources provided by the European Commission as a founding member.
A thermal power plant in Port Louis, Mauritius is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions on the Indian Ocean island.
UNDP Mauritius/Stéphane Bellero
A thermal power plant in Port Louis, Mauritius is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions on the Indian Ocean island.
02-Nov-2021 United Nations
\
Reducing methane emissions vital for climate action, but not ‘get out of jail free card’ \
5 min read
\
\

Reducing methane emissions vital for climate action, but not ‘get out of jail free card’

02-Nov-2021
A new reporting hub to reduce methane emissions – a powerful greenhouse gas responsible for at least a quarter of global warming – was launched on Sunday by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), as the UN Climate Conference (COP26) kicked off in Glasgow.
Supported by the European Union (EU), the (IMEO), the initiative aims to improve the reporting accuracy and public transparency of anthropogenic, or human-caused, methane emissions.
Initially, the Observatory will focus on methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector, before expanding to other major producing sectors, like agriculture and waste. “As highlighted by [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change], if the world is serious about avoiding the worst effects of climate change, we need to cut methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry”, said chief Inger Andersen.

Monstrous methane

Noting that methane released directly into the atmosphere is more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year period, the report upholds the need for the world to cut by 50 per cent, to reach the goal set by the on climate change, of limiting global temperature rise, as close as possible to 1.5°C. However, as the atmospheric lifespan of methane is a relatively short 10 to 12 years, emission-cutting actions can reduce the rate of warming, as it also delivers air quality benefits. According to the recently published , low or zero-net methane reductions could shave 0.28°C from the planet’s forecasted rise in average temperature by 2050, almost halving anthropogenic methane emissions. The Observatory notes that if the world is to achieve the 1.5°C temperature target, it must make deep methane emission reductions. To this end, it outlines how to prioritize actions and monitor commitments made by States in the , a 30-country-strong effort to slash these emissions by 30 per cent, by 2030.

‘Hand-in-hand’ reductions

On the current trajectory, by 2030 greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could reach 1.34 billion tons per year, equivalent to the emissions produced by 300 new 500MW coal-fired power plants.
Climate Visuals Countdown/Abir A
“But this is not a ‘get out of jail free’ card: methane reductions must go hand in hand with actions to decarbonize the energy system to limit warming to 1.5°C”, said Ms. Andersen. As the fossil fuel industry is responsible for , it is the sector with the highest potential for reductions. Wasted methane, the main component in natural gas, is a valuable source of energy that could be used to fuel power plants or homes.

Emission data sharing

Beginning with the fossil fuel sector, the Observatory will produce a global public dataset of verified methane emissions. This will be done by integrating information principally from the 2.0 (OGMP 2.0), scientific studies, remote sensing data, and national inventories. IMEO will then share this data with companies and Governments globally to utilize for their own strategic mitigation actions.

Trusted data

Methane reductions must go hand in hand with actions to decarbonize the energy system -- UNEP chief
Data collected through OGMP 2.0 – launched last November in the framework of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, in which UN agencies are partners – are of critical importance, said UNEP. OGMP 2.0 is the only comprehensive, measurement-based reporting framework for the oil and gas sector, and its 74-member companies represent many of the world’s largest operators, with assets that account for over 30 per cent of all oil and gas production. In its first published report, IMEO spells out the need for an independent and trusted entity to integrate multiple sources of data. The report also includes an analysis submitted by OGMP 2.0 companies, where most outlined ambitious 2025 reduction targets. Out of the 55 companies that set goals, 30 meet or exceeded the recommended targets of 45 per cent reduction or near-zero methane intensity, and 51 have submitted plan. To maintain its independence and credibility, IMEO will receive no industry financing, but instead be entirely funded by Governments and philanthropies, with core resources provided by the European Commission as a founding member.
A thermal power plant in Port Louis, Mauritius is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions on the Indian Ocean island.
UNDP Mauritius/Stéphane Bellero
A thermal power plant in Port Louis, Mauritius is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions on the Indian Ocean island.
02-Nov-2021 United Nations
\
Reducing methane emissions vital for climate action, but not ‘get out of jail free card’ \
5 min read
\
\

Reducing methane emissions vital for climate action, but not ‘get out of jail free card’

01-Nov-2021
A new reporting hub to reduce methane emissions – a powerful greenhouse gas responsible for at least a quarter of global warming – was launched on Sunday by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), as the UN Climate Conference (COP26) kicked off in Glasgow.
Supported by the European Union (EU), the (IMEO), the initiative aims to improve the reporting accuracy and public transparency of anthropogenic, or human-caused, methane emissions.
Initially, the Observatory will focus on methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector, before expanding to other major producing sectors, like agriculture and waste. “As highlighted by [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change], if the world is serious about avoiding the worst effects of climate change, we need to cut methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry”, said chief Inger Andersen.

Monstrous methane

Noting that methane released directly into the atmosphere is more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year period, the report upholds the need for the world to cut by 50 per cent, to reach the goal set by the on climate change, of limiting global temperature rise, as close as possible to 1.5°C. However, as the atmospheric lifespan of methane is a relatively short 10 to 12 years, emission-cutting actions can reduce the rate of warming, as it also delivers air quality benefits. According to the recently published , low or zero-net methane reductions could shave 0.28°C from the planet’s forecasted rise in average temperature by 2050, almost halving anthropogenic methane emissions. The Observatory notes that if the world is to achieve the 1.5°C temperature target, it must make deep methane emission reductions. To this end, it outlines how to prioritize actions and monitor commitments made by States in the , a 30-country-strong effort to slash these emissions by 30 per cent, by 2030.

‘Hand-in-hand’ reductions

On the current trajectory, by 2030 greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could reach 1.34 billion tons per year, equivalent to the emissions produced by 300 new 500MW coal-fired power plants.
Climate Visuals Countdown/Abir A
“But this is not a ‘get out of jail free’ card: methane reductions must go hand in hand with actions to decarbonize the energy system to limit warming to 1.5°C”, said Ms. Andersen. As the fossil fuel industry is responsible for , it is the sector with the highest potential for reductions. Wasted methane, the main component in natural gas, is a valuable source of energy that could be used to fuel power plants or homes.

Emission data sharing

Beginning with the fossil fuel sector, the Observatory will produce a global public dataset of verified methane emissions. This will be done by integrating information principally from the 2.0 (OGMP 2.0), scientific studies, remote sensing data, and national inventories. IMEO will then share this data with companies and Governments globally to utilize for their own strategic mitigation actions.

Trusted data

Methane reductions must go hand in hand with actions to decarbonize the energy system -- UNEP chief
Data collected through OGMP 2.0 – launched last November in the framework of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, in which UN agencies are partners – are of critical importance, said UNEP. OGMP 2.0 is the only comprehensive, measurement-based reporting framework for the oil and gas sector, and its 74-member companies represent many of the world’s largest operators, with assets that account for over 30 per cent of all oil and gas production. In its first published report, IMEO spells out the need for an independent and trusted entity to integrate multiple sources of data. The report also includes an analysis submitted by OGMP 2.0 companies, where most outlined ambitious 2025 reduction targets. Out of the 55 companies that set goals, 30 meet or exceeded the recommended targets of 45 per cent reduction or near-zero methane intensity, and 51 have submitted plan. To maintain its independence and credibility, IMEO will receive no industry financing, but instead be entirely funded by Governments and philanthropies, with core resources provided by the European Commission as a founding member.
A thermal power plant in Port Louis, Mauritius is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions on the Indian Ocean island.
UNDP Mauritius/Stéphane Bellero
A thermal power plant in Port Louis, Mauritius is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions on the Indian Ocean island.
01-Nov-2021 United Nations
\
Reducing methane emissions vital for climate action, but not ‘get out of jail free card’ \
5 min read
\
\

Reducing methane emissions vital for climate action, but not ‘get out of jail free card’

01-Nov-2021
A new reporting hub to reduce methane emissions – a powerful greenhouse gas responsible for at least a quarter of global warming – was launched on Sunday by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), as the UN Climate Conference (COP26) kicked off in Glasgow.
Supported by the European Union (EU), the (IMEO), the initiative aims to improve the reporting accuracy and public transparency of anthropogenic, or human-caused, methane emissions.
Initially, the Observatory will focus on methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector, before expanding to other major producing sectors, like agriculture and waste. “As highlighted by [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change], if the world is serious about avoiding the worst effects of climate change, we need to cut methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry”, said chief Inger Andersen.

Monstrous methane

Noting that methane released directly into the atmosphere is more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year period, the report upholds the need for the world to cut by 50 per cent, to reach the goal set by the on climate change, of limiting global temperature rise, as close as possible to 1.5°C. However, as the atmospheric lifespan of methane is a relatively short 10 to 12 years, emission-cutting actions can reduce the rate of warming, as it also delivers air quality benefits. According to the recently published , low or zero-net methane reductions could shave 0.28°C from the planet’s forecasted rise in average temperature by 2050, almost halving anthropogenic methane emissions. The Observatory notes that if the world is to achieve the 1.5°C temperature target, it must make deep methane emission reductions. To this end, it outlines how to prioritize actions and monitor commitments made by States in the , a 30-country-strong effort to slash these emissions by 30 per cent, by 2030.

‘Hand-in-hand’ reductions

On the current trajectory, by 2030 greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could reach 1.34 billion tons per year, equivalent to the emissions produced by 300 new 500MW coal-fired power plants.
Climate Visuals Countdown/Abir A
“But this is not a ‘get out of jail free’ card: methane reductions must go hand in hand with actions to decarbonize the energy system to limit warming to 1.5°C”, said Ms. Andersen. As the fossil fuel industry is responsible for , it is the sector with the highest potential for reductions. Wasted methane, the main component in natural gas, is a valuable source of energy that could be used to fuel power plants or homes.

Emission data sharing

Beginning with the fossil fuel sector, the Observatory will produce a global public dataset of verified methane emissions. This will be done by integrating information principally from the 2.0 (OGMP 2.0), scientific studies, remote sensing data, and national inventories. IMEO will then share this data with companies and Governments globally to utilize for their own strategic mitigation actions.

Trusted data

Methane reductions must go hand in hand with actions to decarbonize the energy system -- UNEP chief
Data collected through OGMP 2.0 – launched last November in the framework of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, in which UN agencies are partners – are of critical importance, said UNEP. OGMP 2.0 is the only comprehensive, measurement-based reporting framework for the oil and gas sector, and its 74-member companies represent many of the world’s largest operators, with assets that account for over 30 per cent of all oil and gas production. In its first published report, IMEO spells out the need for an independent and trusted entity to integrate multiple sources of data. The report also includes an analysis submitted by OGMP 2.0 companies, where most outlined ambitious 2025 reduction targets. Out of the 55 companies that set goals, 30 meet or exceeded the recommended targets of 45 per cent reduction or near-zero methane intensity, and 51 have submitted plan. To maintain its independence and credibility, IMEO will receive no industry financing, but instead be entirely funded by Governments and philanthropies, with core resources provided by the European Commission as a founding member.
A thermal power plant in Port Louis, Mauritius is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions on the Indian Ocean island.
UNDP Mauritius/Stéphane Bellero
A thermal power plant in Port Louis, Mauritius is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions on the Indian Ocean island.
01-Nov-2021 United Nations
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