The hidden "killer" causing global warming.

SGGP 22/11/2023 05:56

Global average temperatures have risen by more than 2 ^° C for the first time compared to pre-industrial levels. This data was released on November 21st by the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Monitoring Service (C3S).

Accordingly, the average global temperature on November 17th was 2.07 ^° C higher than the average for the period from 1850-1900, and this is also the highest increase ever recorded. Last September, C3S predicted that 2023 would almost certainly surpass the record for the hottest year recorded in 2016, with temperatures possibly unprecedented in history, likely the hottest in over 100,000 years. Last October alone saw temperatures 1.7 ^° C higher than the average October temperature during the pre-industrial era.

On the same day, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its Annual Emissions Gap report, warning that the planet is on track to warm rapidly by 2.5 ^° C to 2.9 ^° C between now and 2100. Based solely on current policies and emissions reduction efforts, the Earth could warm by up to 3 ^° C, far exceeding the key limits set by the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. These latest figures are making the issue of methane emissions a new hot topic at the 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28).

According to the plan, COP28 will take place from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Climate discussions usually revolve around reducing CO2 – the most dangerous greenhouse gas. However, methane (CH4) – another emission that has the potential to warm the Earth and is considered a hidden killer after CO2 – is becoming a new hot topic in discussions at COP28. At the national and regional levels, in 2021, the European Union and the United States launched the Global Methane Commitment, aiming to reduce global methane emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels.

Both the US and China have announced they will include methane in their climate action plans. Meanwhile, major oil and gas corporations have also proposed an Oil and Gas Climate Initiative aimed at achieving net-zero emissions from exploration and production activities by 2030.

Methane is abundant in nature and is a major component of natural gas. It is the second largest contributor to climate change, accounting for approximately 16% of global warming. While methane remains in the atmosphere for only about 10 years, its warming impact is far greater than that of CO2. Specifically, over 100 years, methane's global warming impact is 28 times greater than that of CO2. Over 20 years, the difference is 80 times.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/sat-thu-giau-mat-khien-trai-dat-nong-len-post715157.html