This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
Tuesday, 2 November 2021
A Global Methane Pledge: But Don't Tell the Cows?
Methane is an especially potent 'greenhouse gas'. It may currently account for almost half of global heating. Fortunately, methane only remains in the atmosphere for tens of years (unlike carbon dioxide, that is around for thousands of years). With prompting by the US President, the Global Methane Pledge is one of the first agreements reached at Cop26 (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/02/joe-biden-plan-cut-global-methane-emissions-30-percent). Some 90 countries have signed up to the Pledge. There are, however, some notable methane polluters (including China and Russia), who are not committing themselves to an agreed 30% reduction. A 30% reduction in methane emissions would have a quick effect on the rate of climate change. All the emphasis in the pledge is on methane as:- a) a byproduct of oil and gas extraction (it is usually burnt off in flares); b) a gas escaping from abandoned oil wells and coal mines and c) a material produced by bacterial action on uncovered landfill. Methane is also, however, burped by cattle. There didn't seem to be much mention of this in the Global Methane Pledge. Perhaps this wouldn't go down too well in countries obsessed by steaks and hamburgers?
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