The United States, the European Union, and partners have formally launched the Global Methane Pledge, described by President Biden as a “game-changing commitment” to reduce global methane emissions and “keep 1.5 degrees in reach”.
More than 100 countries that represent 70% of the global economy and emit nearly half of all the world’s methane have signed up to the pledge.
Countries joining the Global Methane Pledge commit to collectively reduce global methane emissions by at least 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030 and to move towards using best available inventory methodologies to quantify methane emissions, particularly high emission sources.
As part of a new U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan, President Biden outlined a series of measures the United States will be taking to identify and cost-effectively reduce methane emissions from all major sources. This includes working with farmers and ranchers to reduce methane on farms through measures such as:
- The adoption of alternative manure management systems and other methane-reducing practices
- The expansion of on-farm generation and use of renewable energy
- The development of a climate-smart agricultural commodities partnership initiative
- Increased investments in agricultural methane quantification and related innovations.