
Reducing methane emissions over the next 12 years is critical to reducing climate risk
Methane can make up nearly half of the needed emissions progress (10 of 21 gigatons of CO₂ equivalents) until 2030
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The new study, which integrates previous work, reexamines what cutting methane emissions by 30% over the next decade could do for global temperature rise compared to focusing only on reducing CO₂ and associated greenhouse gasses. The study finds that even if CO₂ emissions were to steadily decrease and the planet reach net-zero around 2050, over half of the global temperature decrease by 2045 would have come from dedicated methane abatement. Additionally, a 30% reduction in methane emissions over the next 12 years would limit global temperature rise to 0.28°C instead of 0.34°C without dedicated methane abatement. Furthermore, the analysis found, rapid methane and CO₂ abatement over the next decade can moderate near-term temperature change and deliver longer-term temperature stabilization compared to focusing only on methane or CO₂.