More than 100 countries unite to launch Global Methane Pledge at COP26
GLASGOW — 105 Heads of State from around the world, including U.S. President Biden and EU President von der Leyen, joined together today to formally launch the Global Methane Pledge at COP26 in “a major breakthrough in the effort to cut methane emissions and help keep the planet from passing irreversible climate tipping points,” according to Sarah Smith, Program Director, Super Pollutants at Clean Air Task Force.
The launch of the Global Methane Pledge marked an early bright spot for the two-week climate summit, with many world leaders in attendance for the formal launch.
The pledge commits signatories to a collective goal of reducing methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. The U.S. and EU announced it in September and have so far recruited more than 100 world governments to join.
Smith continued: “These world governments have made it clear: rapidly reducing methane emissions is the fastest way to slow global warming now and help keep international climate goals within reach.
For too long this potent super pollutant has fallen off the agenda at major climate summits while its emissions have risen to all-time highs, pushing our planet closer to potentially irreversible tipping points. By launching the Global Methane Pledge on the world stage, they’ve made sure that methane will be front and center — where it belongs. Every country in the world should follow their lead and join the pledge immediately, and we are offering our tools and expertise to help Pledge supporting governments turn their ambition into action.”
CATF works with national governments, NGOs and industry leaders around the world to put robust implementation plans in place to quickly cut methane pollution, including through the Country Methane Abatement Tool (CoMAT). The organization has a substantial presence at COP26, in part as co-hosts of a global methane pavilion, which features two weeks of programming around the urgent need to reduce methane emissions. Learn more at methanemoment.org.
Leading climate scientists have found that reducing methane emissions is required to keep the planet from warming beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius, helping to maintain a safe climate. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), methane is responsible for about half of the 1.0 degree Celsius net rise in global average temperature since the pre-industrial era, and action to rapidly cut methane pollution is the clearest opportunity humanity has to reduce the amount of warming Earth will experience in the next 20 years.
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About Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a non-profit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid global development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. We work towards these objectives through research and analysis, public advocacy leadership, and partnership with the private sector. With nearly 25 years of nationally and internationally recognized expertise on clean air policy and regulations and a fierce commitment to fully exploring all potential solutions, CATF is an environmental advocacy group with the bold ideas needed today to solve the climate crisis. CATF is headquartered in Boston, with staff working virtually around the U.S. and abroad.
