The meeting closed on the morning of the 20th, and an agreement was reached to establish a fund for climate disasters, but in other carbon reduction processes, most of them only maintained last year's achievements and no further commitments were made.
The Global Methane Pledge, launched last year, has seen about 50 more signatories this year, pledging to reduce methane emissions. However, China and India, two of the largest methane emitters, have not signed on.
Methane is the second-largest contributor to the global greenhouse gas (GHG), with a warming potential dozens of times greater than that of carbon dioxide. At the ministerial meeting on the 17th, China's special climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua, made a surprise appearance. He noted that China's methane emissions reduction strategy was undergoing approval, but had not yet been included in the commitment.
150 countries join global methane pledge, but China and India remain
At last year's United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), 105 countries signed the "Global Methane Commitment," a joint initiative by the United States and the European Union. The pledge pledged a 30% reduction in methane emissions by 2030 (compared to 2020 levels). A year later, at a ministerial meeting on methane on the 17th, US Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry announced that over 150 countries had joined the commitment, with 50 already implementing related plans or actions.
The United States and the European Union also issued a joint statement outlining global progress on methane initiatives this year. Ninety-five percent of countries worldwide are incorporating methane into their national carbon reduction plans, and many have pledged to complete their national methane action plans before the next Conference of the Parties (COP28).
About 40% of methane emissions come from natural sources such as wetlands, and 60% comes from human activities such as cattle and sheep digesting food, oil and gas leaks, and landfills.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), China is the world's largest methane emitter, with emissions roughly double those of the second-largest emitter, India. Neither country has signed the Global Methane Commitment.
China says it's developing a strategy; climate envoy makes surprise appearance
The meeting on the 17th was co-hosted and chaired by the Clean Air Task Force. According to Climate Home, Xie Zhenhua made a surprise appearance during the meeting. He took the stage and explained that Kerry had invited him that morning.
He explained that China is developing a draft strategy for the three main sources of methane emissions: energy, agriculture, and waste, which is still undergoing legislative and administrative procedures. Xie Zhenhua's presence raised hopes, but he ultimately did not announce the signing of the commitment.
According to the People's Daily, Xie Zhenhua discussed China's progress on methane emissions while attending the World Bank's COP27 event on the 8th. Regarding coal, the "Interim Coalbed Methane (Coal Mine Gas) Emission Standard" was proposed, with subsidies to encourage its recovery and utilization. In the oil and gas sector, companies have established the "China Oil and Gas Enterprise Methane Emission Control Alliance" and set emission reduction targets. Related actions are also being taken in the agricultural and waste sectors.
The Clean Air Task Force believes Xie Zhenhua's appearance demonstrates China's resolve. Jonathan Banks, global director of the task force's methane program, praised the fact that many countries have already translated their resolve into action through concrete plans, and China's actions make this day even brighter.
Source: Environmental Information Center (https://e-info.org.tw/node/235500)
