Cutting Methane Emissions: An Opportunity We Can't Afford to Miss
For many years, methane was overlooked in the climate change conversation. But that’s changing. Scientists and policymakers are increasingly recognizing that its reduction is crucial. Methane, though has more warming potential than CO2, breaks down in the atmosphere within just years compared to decades for the latter. Controlling methane emission is a quick possibility and one of the fastest ways to reduce the planet’s rate of warming.?
In the recently concluded climate summit COP28, the parties put methane on the table for negotiation. In COP26,? 112 countries agreed on the Global Methane Pledge to take voluntary actions to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. And at COP28, negotiators agreed to put more money behind this effort. The World Bank launched the Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) Partnership, to provide more than $250 million and mobilize billions from the private sector to support those countries with the least capacity and resources to address methane and CO2 emissions.?
The Lowering Organic Waste Methane (LOW-Methane) initiative was launched by a coalition of international partners during COP28. It aims to scale-up global action to cut methane emissions from the waste sector, which accounts for roughly 20% of global methane emissions from human activities.? The ambition of LOW-Methane is to deliver at least 1 million metric tonnes of annual waste sector methane reductions well before 2030 and to unlock over $10 billion in public and private investment.?
The Waste Methane Assessment Platform (Waste MAP), the first-ever global platform to use satellite monitoring to track and measure the locations and amounts of methane emissions from waste, was also launched at COP28. The platform, developed by the Global Methane Hub, consolidates satellite information on landfill methane emissions. It will enable local governments and NGOs to pinpoint the exact location of a methane source, allowing them to intervene and mitigate the emissions before they become hazardous.?
Why methane is a burning issue?
Methane (CH4)? is the second-largest contributor to climate warming after CO2. An estimated 60% of methane emissions are the result of human activities, such as agriculture, fossil fuel burning and waste decomposition and the rest come from natural means such as the decay of plant material in wetlands, the seepage of gas from underground deposits or the digestion of food by cattle.?
According to NASA, a molecule of methane traps more heat than a molecule of CO2, but methane has a relatively short lifespan of 7 to 12 years in the atmosphere, while CO2 can persist for hundreds of years or more. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) finding says, methane is at least 28 times more effective than CO2 at trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 100-year period and is 84 times more potent on a 20-year timescale.
The concentration of methane in the atmosphere has more than doubled over the past 200 years. Scientists estimate that this increase is responsible for 20 to 30% of climate warming since the Industrial Revolution.?
Focus on the landfill?
Landfill emissions amount to ?3.8% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions. Landfill waste is responsible for about 11% of global methane emissions and is expected to increase about 70% by 2050 as the global population continues to climb, according to the World Bank. Thus, reducing methane emissions from landfills will significantly reduce global warming.?
Globally approximately two thirds of municipal solid waste is landfilled. Landfill methane results from the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste in landfills. According to an EPA report, Food generates 39% of overall methane per ton of landfill waste. Paper waste in the landfill generates 24%, textiles 22%, other organic materials 6%, yard waste 6% and wood can potentially generate 2% of overall methane.??
Preventing organic waste ending up in landfills should be the foremost methane mitigation measure, recommends the IPCC.??
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How to reduce organic waste?
Mitigation measures should include a comprehensive approach: Reducing overconsumption, increasing recycling, promoting reuse systems, banning or redesigning problematic products and packaging. While residents and individuals should practice source segregation, governments should incentivize organic waste diversion and install methane capture at landfills.? Setting up large-scale anaerobic digestion facilities should also be pursued.? ?
Opportunities to cut methane are inexpensive compared to carbon dioxide. Reduction of organic wastes disposed of in landfills requires co-ordinated waste management system. It come at an annual cost of approximately US$ 100 per capita, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).?
Until recently, little was known about where methane leaks were occurring, or the best way to fix them. But today we have the technology and satellite details of how much gas is being emitted and where they leak from. Ground-based measurement tools along with a growing number of satellites are making it faster and cheaper than ever to locate, measure and reduce emissions.
Other opportunities?
Methane also offers a unique opportunity to increase available energy supply. Landfill gas, which includes methane, CO2 and other gases, has value as a fuel. An Environmental Defense Fund study found that in the US, the oil and gas industry emits at least 13 million metric tons of methane a year. The volume represents enough natural gas to fuel 10 million homes.?
What can individuals do to prevent food ending up in landfill??
A Reuter’s report recommends the following Food Recovery Hierarchy pyramid:??
Ehfaaz’s solution?
Ehfaaz is committed to preventing organic waste end up in landfill. It offers innovative solutions to not only divert organic waste from landfills but also recycle them into fertilizers. Our unique technology converts major organic waste coming from F&B manufacturers, outlets & logistics companies into premium grade organic fertilizer in just 24 hours. Based on the Rapid Thermophilic Digestion System, it’s the fastest so far in the organic treatment industry.??
Giving used resources a new life
Waste prevention and recycling go a long way in helping address climate change. The manufacture, distribution, and use of products—as well as management of the resulting waste—all result in emissions of greenhouse gases. Ehfaaz’s unique solution to repurpose discarded consumer shampoos into car wash products and degreasers has gained popularity.? These government approved products are the firsts of the kind in the region, making them revolutionary innovations in the circular economy landscape. Our process creates valuable materials for various industries, driving sustainable and climate-friendly practices.?