Earth’s atmosphere has increased more in the past five years than during any other five-year period since monitoring began. This concerning development has caused some serious panic among climate scientists. This is the biggest jump on record—ever—carrying serious consequences for global warming and climate change.
Airborne data show that methane emissions have been increasing very rapidly, especially since 2020. The annual rate of methane increase in our atmosphere has skyrocketed over the past ten years. Either way, this disturbing deficit is indicative of how badly our human actions are threatening climate stability. It’s a big target — about two-thirds of methane emissions are the result of human activity. These include the fossil fuel industry, agriculture, and waste disposal industries.
Methane’s lifetime in the atmosphere is much shorter than that of carbon dioxide. It has a highly enhanced radiative effect compared to CO2, which is why it is a powerful greenhouse gas. As they have explained, this relative importance of methane in terms of its contribution to changes in temperature is primarily a function of these characteristics.
Recent advances in satellite technology have produced new tools such as MethaneSAT and CarbonMapper. These innovations open new doors for researchers to start keeping an eye on methane sources in real time. Combined, these innovations help scientists measure and understand where emissions are coming from, helping inform the implications for climate policy. Our recently released State of Methane Emissions Analysis offers a behind-the-scenes look from about 70 of those experts. By considering both qualitative and quantitative research, they provided a multi-dimensional view of this critical topic.
Researchers are increasing their assessments of methane emissions from background sources that are not directly related to human activity. This cutting-edge research methodology has established a new baseline for transparency and accountability around methane emissions. It is key to rapid assessment and creation of appropriate response strategies.
The stakes of increasing methane concentrations are high. Even industry voices agree that cutting methane emissions might be a cheaper alternative. This strategy can produce climate benefits roughly equal to those from the same investment in carbon dioxide reduction. Considering the urgency of curbing these emissions, prompt action is necessary.
