· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, are rising at an unprecedented rate, posing significant challenges to climate goals
• New findings from the Global Carbon Project show that human-caused methane emissions are tracking worst-case climate scenarios, with rapid increases from agriculture, landfills, and fossil fuels
🔭 The context: Methane, which traps 30 times more heat than CO2, has doubled in concentration since the industrial revolution, primarily due to fossil fuel extraction, livestock, and waste
• Despite global pledges to reduce methane by 30%, emissions continue to grow, especially in Asia and the Middle East
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Methane is responsible for roughly a third of current global warming, and reducing it is one of the few short-term ways to slow temperature rise
• Its growing emissions push the planet closer to dangerous warming thresholds
⏭️ What's next: New satellite technologies like MethaneSAT will soon help pinpoint and curb methane sources, aiming to accelerate accountability and mitigation efforts
💬 One quote: "Warming that was once inconceivable is now perhaps likely," said Rob Jackson, climate scientist from Stanford University
📈 One stat: Methane emissions grew 20% between 2000 and 2020, now accounting for a third of total annual releases
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