COP27: Un to Set up System to Track Methane Emissions From Space

What’s in today’s article:

• News Summary

 

Why in news?

• The Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) was launched at the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
• MARS is a new satellite-based system will now help governments detect methane emissions and tackle them.

 

News Summary

• As part of global efforts to slow climate change by tackling methane, the UN announced a new satellite-based system to detect emissions of the climate warming gas and allow governments and businesses to respond.

 

Methane Alert and Response System (MARS)

• MARS is a data-to-action It was set up as part of the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) strategy to get policy-relevant data into the right hands for emissions mitigation.
• The system will be the first publicly available global system to connect methane detection to notification processes
  • It will use state-of-the-art satellite data to identify significant emission events, notify relevant stakeholders, and support and track mitigation progress.
• MARS has been developed in the framework of the Global Methane Pledge Energy Pathway – with initial funding from the European Commission, the US Government and other stakeholders.
  • In June 2022, the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) Energy Pathway was launched
  • It was launched with an aim to catalyse methane emissions reductions in the oil and gas sector, advancing both climate progress and energy security.
  • The GMP Energy Pathway aims to encourage all nations to:
    • Capture the maximum potential of cost-effective methane mitigation in the oil and gas sector, and
    • Eliminate routine flaring as soon as possible, and no later than 2030.
• MARS will be implemented with partners including the International Energy Agency, and the UNEP-hosted Climate and Clean Air Coalition.

 

Working of MARS

• Beginning with very large point sources from the energy sector, MARS will integrate data from the rapidly expanding system of methane-detecting satellites to include lower-emitting area sources and more frequent detection.
  • Data on coal, waste, livestock and rice will be added gradually to MARS to support Global Methane Pledge implementation.
• MARS will use data from global mapping satellites to identify very large methane plumes and methane hot spots and data from high-resolution satellites to attribute the emissions to a specific source.
• UNEP will then notify governments and companies about the emissions, either directly or through partners, so that the responsible entity can take appropriate action.
• If requested, MARS partners will provide technical or advisory services such as help in assessing mitigation opportunities.
• UNEP will continue to monitor the event location and make the data and analysis available to the public between 45 and 75 days after detection.

 

Need For MARS

• Methane is a major greenhouse gas
  • Methane is the second-most common of the six major greenhouse gases, but is far more dangerous than carbon dioxide in its potential to cause global warming.
  • Accounting for about 17 per cent of the current global greenhouse gas emissions, methane is blamed for having caused at least 25 to 30 per cent of temperature rise since the pre-industrial times.
• Reduction in methane emissions brings big benefits in a short time
  • Unlike carbon dioxide, methane is largely a sectoral gas, and there are only a few sources of emission.
  • It is possible, therefore, to cut down on methane emissions without having widespread impact on the economy.
  • Because its global warming potential is about 80 times that of carbon dioxide, a reduction in methane emissions also brings big benefits in a short time.
• Suggestions by different reports and organisations
  • As per UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report, released before the current climate summit, the world is far off track on efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
  • Reducing methane emissions can make a big and rapid difference, as this gas leaves the atmosphere far quicker than carbon dioxide.
  • According to the IPCC, we must cut methane emissions at least 30% by 2030 to keep the 1.5°C temperature limit within reach.
  • Global Methane Pledge also aims to reduce global methane emissions at least 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030.
    • At the Glasgow climate conference held in 2021 (COP 26), nearly 100 countries had come together in a voluntary pledge to cut emission of Methane.
    • This pledge is now referred to as the Global Methane Pledge. More countries have joined in this initiative since then, bringing the total to nearly 130.