What is the fastest way to slow down climate change

Why is it that we are constantly asking what individuals can do to stop climate change? Looking for an answer to this question, we also really want to know why this is such a burning issue for us? Why is this our top priority when it comes to climate change? It is easy to say that we should question our fixation on reducing our carbon footprints. It is increasingly clear that we, as a people are obsessed with reducing our carbon footprints. However, this fixation has had very little impact on climate change whatsoever. In fact, it has done very little to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere.

 

Individual actions, such as not driving a car, are important, but they are like throwing a bucket of water onto a burning house. It will put out a few flames, but it just distracts you from the fact that it will take much more than one bucket to prevent the fire from burning your home.The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggests that extensive social changes are necessary within the next 11 years to keep global surface temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. 

 

We are faced with a dilemma: either continue using fossil fuels and further damage our environment, or make a concerted effort to change government policies and pressure businesses to adopt more sustainable practices. The latter option is preferable, but will be difficult to achieve without widespread support. We must take action now, or risk being caught in an endless cycle of trying to clean up the messes we have made.

Carbon dioxide vs. methane emissions

Over the course of ten minutes, an individual emits enough greenhouse gases to add 700,000 metric tonns of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. This is the equivalent of the weight of 12 million people. The amount of Carbon dioxide pollution makes up 99% of all pollution. The other 1% is mostly methane. CO2 is important  because it is a byproduct of human activity and can remain in the atmosphere for long periods of time. This means we must achieve net-zero emissions to eventually stabilize our climate. This is key to protecting generations to come. But with climate change already devastating so many lives today, we can't delay any longer.

 

Although methane contributes a small percentage of greenhouse gases, it is actually more potent than carbon dioxide. This is because methane absorbs more energy per unit mass, and it can also create other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. As a result, methane contributes significantly to climate change. However, methane only lasts for around a decade. So, despite its immediate effect on the climate, methane's warming power is not from the gradual buildup over time like carbon dioxide, but rather from recent emissions. Every time the world cuts down on methane, we reduce a lot of warming. Cutting down methane is the single fastest, most effective way to immediately slow down the rate of warming.

Ways to reduce methane emission

In this article, we have put forward a list of advanced measures to reduce methane. Because methane acts fast, so do we? With the technology available to reduce methane emissions from human activities by half, we can take quick action to improve the situation. Additionally, many of the solutions available are cost effective. The three main sources of methane emissions are:

 

1. Energy production

2. Waste management and 

3. Agriculture. 1. Reduction in methane emissions from energy production

Energy production presents the largest and most cost-effective opportunity for methane reduction. Let's see how.  The majority of methane that is produced from energy comes from natural gas, which can easily escape into the atmosphere during the extraction of coal, oil, and gas, or when transporting gas through pipelines.

 

Although the use of natural gas in place of coal can have near-term benefits for climate change, these can be offset by methane leaks. But we have the technologies available to significantly reduce these emissions at no net cost, as the saved gas can be sold. For example, natural gas is being wasted in oil fields in West Texas that could heat more than two million homes. The methane problem can be fixed by tightening a valve, placing a gasket, or tuning an engine. The main reason these easy fixes haven't been implemented is not the cost. The reason is that the lack of data on emissions has been a problem for the government and industry.

 

However, our ability to detect these leaks has improved in recent years. There are now handheld instruments and sensors on aircraft and drones that can help us find these leaks. Also, the data collected by satellites that are designed to locate and measure methane from space can help us understand and address the problem. The launch of MethaneSAT will allow for the detection and quantification of methane emissions across the globe with unprecedented precision. This will enable us to identify and address methane emissions, which is a critical step in mitigating climate change.

1. Reduction in methane emissions from waste management

We can also reduce emissions from waste management, the second category, where methane is produced as bacteria decompose garbage in landfills and sludge in wastewater. Some landfills receive enough trash each day to fill more than 10 Olympic-sized swimming pools. We can reduce methane emissions from landfills by using vacuum tubes to collect the methane and using it to generate electricity. Additionally, we can send food waste away from landfills to composting centers, which will reduce emissions even further.

1. Reduction in methane emissions from agriculture and livestock

Agriculture, despite its importance, creates the third-highest amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. And, despite efforts to curb these emissions, agriculture remains the hardest sector to decarbonize. However, new technology, especially for livestock, is on the horizon. As the number one source of agricultural emissions is livestock. Some farm animals, like the billion-plus cattle worldwide, belch methane while digesting plants. 

 

Methane emissions from cows can be significantly reduced through feed, according to scientists. Scientists have discovered ways to suppress methane production in a cow's gut, which reduces the amount of methane released into the atmosphere. Feed supplements for cows have been studied, and while they do not completely eliminate methane production, they do lower it significantly. Livestock manure also contributes heavily to methane emissions. Recently, though, there have been advances in treating manure in order to capture methane and use it for heat and electricity.

 

A major source of methane emissions are the rice fields. Rice fields are a breeding ground for microbes that form methane due to the standing water. However, by managing the depth of water in the fields, we can significantly reduce methane emissions.

Long-term benefits of cutting methane emissions

Taking action to reduce methane emissions will require effort, but people are already taking steps. Governments, oil and gas CEOs, landfill operators, and farmers are implementing measures to reduce methane. However, more needs to be done in order to prevent further warming. It is essential that methane emissions targets be included as part of every company's business model, as well as every country's nationally determined contribution, as the Paris Agreement is strengthened.

 

If we're able to reduce methane emissions effectively and rapidly, we could see benefits in our lifetime. For example, scientists have found that we could potentially slow the rate of global warming by up to 30 percent by mid-century. This would help communities and ecosystems to adapt to a changing climate and mitigate the effects of extreme events, such as wildfires in the Americas and Australia, and flooding in Europe and Asia.

 

Reducing methane emissions could also help improve air quality, saving lives and crops. This is because methane contributes to ozone pollution. Some of the people most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change are those who are exposed to methane emissions. These mitigation strategies can also help offset the impacts of climate change, for example, by creating new employment opportunities.

 

If we take action now to reduce methane emissions, we can also help to preserve Arctic sea ice. The reduction of methane, in combination with other measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, would make it unlikely for temperatures to increase to a level that would cause the complete melting of Arctic sea ice during the summer. This is significant not only for those who live in polar regions and the ecosystems there, but for the entire world.

Final words…

This is the time to reduce methane emissions. The fastest and most efficient way to lower the risks associated with climate change in the near future is to minimise methane emissions. Cutting carbon dioxide, which will otherwise build up over time, is the key to reducing risks in the long term. We need to both cut methane and carbon dioxide emissions to create a safer future for ourselves, our children, and future generations.