Methane: Most Potent GHG To Make India Meet India's Carbon Neutrality Goals

The human race has no doubt about the impacts of global warming, thanks to rapid industrialization, unplanned development, and ignoring of nature¡¯s assets, which support the earth. The symptoms of the rise in Earth¡¯s temperature can be seen on various fronts, including an increasing incidence of heat-related illnesses and respiratory infectious diseases, as well as mosquitoes bred malaria and dengue fever. Other apparent impacts being witnessed are change in weather patterns, loss of habitats on land and also in the ocean, frequent natural disasters, change in the timing of seasonal events such as flowering and hibernation, and disrupting food chains and webs.

Global warming is affecting human health in various ways, while also imposing a significant economic impact, triggered by crop failures, water shortages, and increased costs of food production. The impact is far-reaching and poses significant challenges to the world's economy, environment, and public health. It is important for individuals, communities, and governments to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of global warming.

Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases amongst others when considering its impact in the next ten years. Achieving carbon neutrality, and India's net zero by 2070 commitment, requires a comprehensive approach that addresses all greenhouse gases.

The government is implementing several initiatives to reduce methane emissions through various measures, such as the National Action Plan on Climate Change, the Energy Conservation Act of 2001, and the Biofuel Policy of 2003. There are so many more, including the panchamrit. Thankfully, the country has taken many pro-active approaches in terms of achieving carbon neutrality through a mix of measures.

While it is important to address CO2 as the prime GHG driving gas, non-CO2 gases are becoming more important when the next 10 years goals are being looked at for meeting the target of 1.5 degrees centigrade.

We cannot afford to undermine methane, as it has a much higher warming potential than that of carbon dioxide. India is uniquely positioned as about two-thirds of its population is dependent on agriculture, which is at the core of the socio-economic development of the country. Agriculture accounts for around 19 percent of the GDP. And methane is strongly linked with agriculture and livestock, as the greenhouse gas is primarily emitted through the decomposition of organic matter and through human activities such as agriculture. Other important sectors for methane management are oil and gas, waste (solid and liquid), transport, and coal bed methane for methane-based GHG emissions. India's agriculture sector contributes 61 percent of the total methane emissions, followed by the energy sector (extraction, processing, and distribution) and allied industries, which are responsible for 16.4 percent of methane emissions.

Therefore, India¡¯s methane advocacy becomes central to achieving carbon neutrality. We must carefully craft methane advocacy, consisting of targeted measures to reduce methane emissions through better management of landfills, agriculture, and natural gas systems. Proper application of mapping technologies combined with methane capture and use will not only provide global benefits in climate mitigation but also generate jobs and enhance the economy of the country.

Over the past few decades, India¡¯s methane emissions have steadily increased due to unconventional sources. Methane concentrations in the atmosphere have more than doubled since pre-industrial times, as per the US Environmental Protection Agency report. Methane plays an important role in global warming and remains in the atmosphere for about 12 years, but its global warming potential is 25 times greater than that of carbon dioxide, making it a more potent greenhouse gas. This is old. Methane is nearly 28 times more potent than GHG compared to CO2 and nearly 80/84 times more potent when compared over a 10-year time horizon.

India's vision of carbon neutrality necessitates a comprehensive approach to mitigating methane emissions by supplementing its Paris Agreement commitments. The development of new sustainable methane policies and strategies is urgently needed for the application and scaling of technologies to achieve the carbon neutrality goal. We must also consider introducing a methane management and reduction framework with targets for reducing methane emissions to reach carbon neutrality goals by 2070.

By focusing on mitigation opportunities in the oil and gas, agriculture, and livestock sectors, currently India is pursuing a low-carbon economy by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, which are among the most attractive pathways to achieving its carbon neutrality goal.

However, India must prioritize the development of sustainable methane policies, implementing technologies such as methane capture and tiling, biomass energy, carbon capture and storage, and natural climate solutions to reduce its methane emissions. The framework should focus on implementing and promoting methane emission-reduction measures, including the development of sustainable agricultural practices and promotion of efficient livestock management practices.

In order to regulate methane emissions from the agriculture sector, we might need to educate farmers so that they can adopt climate-smart practices, such as improved crop and livestock management practices, while the government may continue to attract investments in renewable energy technologies and infrastructure and place tighter regulations on the sources of carbon emissions.

One of the studies by the ICCSA suggests that India can do well if measures are adopted that will add to farmers and dairy farmers¡¯ income with a view to making methane management sustainable and successful. We understand that agriculture emissions are regarded as a key cause of climate change and are also an integral part of the solution. Reducing methane emissions from the agriculture sector requires a comprehensive approach that includes both technological solutions and changes in farming practices.

Any framework that is developed to address methane emissions through agriculture and livestock must address issues related to improved feed management, manure management, rotational grazing, improved rice cultivation practices, agroforestry, and others. Reducing methane emissions from the agriculture sector requires a comprehensive approach that includes both technological solutions and changes in farming practices.

Of the many sectors where methane abatement is needed, agriculture and livestock¡¯s can take a great leap if they start scaling up through faster adoption of technologies and practices across India. The country needs the participation of all stakeholders and knowledge-generating entities to assist India in taking greater strides in this domain.