Getting the Most out of Methane Reduction
Congress and the Biden administration are starting to address methane emissions, and that’s a giant step forward for U.S. climate policy. But to keep spending on methane reduction accountable, and maximize its impact, we’ll need to look at a range of emissions sources, and focus on the most cost-effective methods with the greatest potential for overall methane abatement.
Methane is classified as a “short-lived climate pollutant,” but it’s also the second most prevalent greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, it’s 86 times more powerful a warming agent than carbon dioxide over 20 years, and it's spiking. New National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data shows methane emissions have risen rapidly since 2000, and surged in 2020 despite the pandemic. We’re unlikely to meet our ambitious climate goals without reversing that rise.