About this episode
What is methane? Methane (CH4) (the primary component of “natural gas”) is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide.Around 60% of global methane emissions come from human activities in three main sectors: energy production (oil, gas, and coal), agriculture (livestock and rice), and waste (landfill and waste water). Energy production accounts for about 35% of anthropogenic methane emissions, agriculture accounts for about 40%, and waste accounts for about 20%. Why is methane leakage prevention important?Methane leaks from fossil fuel production, landfills, and livestock include emissions that are described as “super emitter events,” which have devastating ecological effects. While methane has a much shorter atmospheric lifetime than CO2 (around 12 years compared with one hundred years or more for CO2), it is a significantly more potent greenhouse gas, trapping eighty times more heat than CO2 over a 20 year period, which exacerbates the effects of climate change on our planet. Methane also negatively affects air quality because it is an ingredient in the formation of ground level (tropospheric) ozone, a dangerous air pollutant. Thus, monitoring methane leaks and formulating preventative methods is crucial to preserving the health of both the planet and all those who occupy it.A growing need for methane prevention efforts: how satellites can help us curb methane leaks The United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) has undertaken many initiatives to mitigate methane leaks. In October 2021, UNEP launched the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO), which catalogs emissions for the three largest methane-emitting sectors in a public database, providing governments and companies access to empirically verified methane emissions. This data can be used to build efficient policies to address large methane leakages. In 2022, the UNEP launched the International Methane Alert and Response System, or MARS through its IMEO program, the first ever satellite-based detection system that notifies governments of major methane leaks from their fossil fuel infrastructure. IMEO breaks down satellite detection in four essential steps: IMEO uses global mapping satellites to identify very large methane plumes.The emissions information is shared with governments and companies. Important information includes detailed information on their location, size, potential sources, and operators of the relevant facilities.It is up to notified stakeholders to determine how best to respond to the n
