Scientists report sharp increase in methane emissions over past 20 years

A global team of scientists from the US, France, Australia, and Japan has identified a significant rise in methane emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, Report informs.

Published in the journal Environmental Research Letters (ERL), the research reveals that methane traps heat in the atmosphere 23 times more effectively than carbon dioxide.

In 2020, 608 million tons of methane were emitted into the atmosphere, a 12% increase compared to 2000. Human activities are the primary source of these emissions.

Over the past two decades, anthropogenic methane emissions have risen by 18%, while natural emissions have only increased by 2%. Current methane levels are 2.6 times higher than those in pre-industrial times.

Geographically, anthropogenic methane emissions are increasing worldwide except in Europe, with the most substantial growth in Asia, especially in China and India.

The study also indicates that methane emissions from coal, oil, and gas production have surged by 33%, waste emissions by 20%, and agricultural emissions by 14% in the last 20 years. Livestock, particularly cows, remain the largest source of human-related methane emissions.