Methane emissions ballooned between 2014-2017
Embargoed until:
Publicly released:
2019-02-22 08:00
The amount of methane in the atmosphere has been rising since 2007 and it's not slowing down say an international team of researchers - including a New Zealander. Methane emissions had been dropping at the start of the century, but new air sampling data shows they've been ramping up (particularly between 2014 and 2017) at rates not seen since the 1980s. This increase in methane was unexpected, they say, so it wasn't included in the climate change projections used in Paris Agreement targets.
Journal/conference: Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Link to research (DOI): 10.1029/2018GB006009
Organisation/s: Victoria University of Wellington, Royal Holloway, University of London
Media Release
From: American Geophysical Union
Plain Language Summary
The rise in atmospheric methane (CH4), which began in 2007, accelerated in the past four years. The growth has been worldwide, especially in the tropics and northern mid‐latitudes. With the rise has come a shift in the carbon isotope ratio of the methane. The causes of the rise are not fully understood, and may include increased emissions and perhaps a decline in the destruction of methane in the air. Methane's increase since 2007 was not expected in future greenhouse gas scenarios compliant with the targets of the Paris Agreement, and if the increase continues at the same rates it may become very difficult to meet the Paris goals. There is now urgent need to reduce methane emissions, especially from the fossil fuel industry.
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Expert Recommendations
This expert list has been collated by the Science Media Centre to provide a variety of expert perspectives and reflect independent opinion on this topic.
| Name |
Organisation |
Contact |
Expertise |
| Professor Martin Manning ONZM |
Victoria University of Wellington |
martin.r.manning@gmail.com |
Atmospheric chemistry
The carbon cycle and CO2
Adaptation to climate change effects |
