California is taking global climate action, launching a new commitment to reduce global methane emissions.
California is taking global climate action, launching a new commitment to reduce global methane emissions.
NEW YORK.- Governor Gavin Newsom announced today that California is making a new pledge to governments around the world to work to reduce global emissions of methane, one of the worst climate pollutants. The commitment is aimed at subnational governments such as California and is based on the Global Methane Center’s Global Methane Commitment, which focuses on countries.
To date, seven jurisdictions worldwide have signed, including signatories from Mexico and South Africa.
“The climate crisis knows no borders.
We work with governments around the world to combat emissions of methane, a dangerous pollutant that is 80 times more warming than carbon dioxide.
“By working together on science-based strategies, such as deploying methane detection satellites, we can help address this global threat.”
How we combat dangerous methane emissions
California has set a goal of reducing its methane emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 2013 levels and is leading the nation with innovative solutions, including $100 million in funding to support a constellation of satellites that can monitor large methane plumes.
Last year, the governor launched new efforts to aggressively plug inactive oil wells at risk of methane leaks and to launch a satellite network that will provide near real-time data on large-scale methane leaks, oil and gas infrastructure leaks, and landfills other sources would provide to track more than 40% of global methane emissions.
Why methane?
Tackling methane emissions is crucial. While the effects of other emissions reductions may not be felt until later, methane only takes a decade to decay. This means methane reductions can mitigate the effects of climate change in the short term and are critical to putting the world on track towards 1.5°C, the level scientists estimate to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
