Important for GS Prelims: Environment.
Key Characteristics
- Methane (CH₄) is the simplest hydrocarbon and the main component of natural gas.
- It is a colourless, odourless, highly flammable gas.
- It is the second-largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide (CO₂).
- Density: Lighter than air.
Why is Methane Important?
- It is responsible for nearly 30% of the current global warming since the pre-industrial era.
- Although methane remains in the atmosphere for only about 12 years, it traps much more heat than CO₂.
- Over a 20-year period, methane has about 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide.
- Reducing methane emissions can produce rapid climate benefits.
Environmental Impacts
- Accelerates global warming.
- Increases the formation of ground-level ozone, which is harmful to human health and crops.
- Contributes to extreme weather events.
- Reduces agricultural productivity.
- Affects ecosystems and biodiversity.
Methane and India
- India is among the world’s largest methane emitters.
- Reducing methane emissions is important for achieving India’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Methane Reduction Measures
- Improved livestock management.
- Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) technique in rice cultivation.
- Capture methane from landfills for energy generation.
- Leak detection in oil and gas infrastructure.
- Better waste segregation and biogas production.
- Adoption of cleaner technologies in coal mines.
International Initiatives
- Global Methane Pledge (2021):
- Launched at COP26 (Glasgow).
- Led by the United States and the European Union.
- Aims to reduce global methane emissions by 30% below 2020 levels by 2030.
- Global Methane Initiative (GMI):
- An international partnership promoting methane recovery and utilization.
Conclusion:
- Methane is a short-lived but highly potent greenhouse gas, making its rapid reduction one of the most effective strategies for mitigating near-term global warming.
| This concept has been elaborately discussed in the following article: Toxic Methane Gas Leak in Sikkim Tunnel |