Methane Emissions from Tropical Wetlands Surge, Challenging Climate Goals

Methane emissions from tropical wetlands are increasing at an alarming rate, creating significant hurdles for global climate initiatives. This surge threatens to undermine efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and combat climate change, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address methane sources and their impact on the environment.

Methane emissions have increased more rapidly in the past five years than at any other time in recorded history, with tropical wetlands identified as the primary source of this surge. Scientists warn that achieving climate goals may require methane reductions beyond the pledged 30%.

Tropical wetlands are emitting unprecedented levels of methane, driven by rising temperatures and extended rainfall that expand wetland areas. This surge, largely unaccounted for in emissions plans and scientific models, puts additional pressure on governments to cut emissions from fossil fuels and agriculture.

Wetlands store carbon in dead plant material, which is broken down by soil microbes. Rising temperatures accelerate this process, producing more methane, while heavy rains flood wetlands, further boosting emissions. From 2020 to 2022, air samples recorded the highest atmospheric methane concentrations since measurements began in the 1980s.

Recent studies attribute over 7 million tonnes of the methane surge to tropical wetlands, with significant contributions from the Congo, Southeast Asia, the Amazon, and southern Brazil. Satellite data and chemical analysis confirmed these regions as major sources.

Annual wetland emissions over the last two decades were 500,000 tonnes higher than previous worst-case projections, according to data published in Nature Climate Change. Scientists highlight the challenges of capturing methane from wetlands with current technologies.

The La Niña climate pattern, which increases rainfall in some tropical areas, has been linked to the surge, but it cannot fully explain the record-high emissions, researchers say. Governments will need to take stronger measures to limit global warming to 1.5°C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.

Methane, though shorter-lived than carbon dioxide, is 80 times more potent at trapping heat over 20 years and accounts for about one-third of global warming since 1850. While over 150 countries have pledged to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030, emissions remain high, and progress has been limited.

Efforts to monitor and reduce methane leaks from oil and gas operations have improved, but countries have addressed only a fraction of reported leaks. Meanwhile, ambitious national policies, such as the U.S. methane fee on oil and gas producers, face uncertain futures.

The Democratic Republic of Congo, a major methane hotspot, is working to assess emissions from its vast wetlands, seeking investments for monitoring and managing methane output. However, the exact magnitude of emissions remains unknown, underscoring the need for global cooperation and innovative solutions.

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Source: Reuters‍