China sets sights on coal, petroleum and waste sectors to bring down methane emissions

Beijing encourages firms to use market mechanisms to reduce methane, including a voluntary emissions trading system, according to climate official
He says developing countries should not have to reach carbon neutrality at the same time as developed nations

China pollution

Echo Xie

Published: 7:42pm, 25 Nov 2021

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China will look at ways to control methane emissions in key industries and will introduce a nationwide action plan to do so, a senior climate official said on Thursday.

“[China will] set effective methane emission reduction measures in sectors such as coal mining, agriculture, solid waste, sewage water treatment, petroleum and natural gas,” Lu Xinming, deputy head of the climate change department at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, told reporters.

Lu said China would introduce a nationwide methane emissions control action plan and establish policies, technologies and standards for methane emission reduction in coal, petroleum and waste treatment.

Why China won’t commit to COP26 pledge to slash methane emissions

He said China would improve its measurement, reporting and verification system, adding that the country encouraged companies to use market mechanisms to cut methane emissions, including a voluntary greenhouse gas emissions trading system.

After carbon dioxide, methane is the second most abundant greenhouse gas emitted through human activity, accounting for 17 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Most human-caused methane emissions come from three sectors – energy, agriculture and waste.

China is the world’s biggest emitter of human-caused methane and its largest source is coal mining, followed by waste and agriculture.

03:07

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At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow this month, China and the United States, the world’s two biggest greenhouse gas emitters, committed to working together to tackle climate change, including cooperating on controlling and cutting methane emissions.

China’s latest five-year economic and social development plan to 2025 includes the goal of controlling non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gases, like methane and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) – man-made greenhouse gases commonly used in refrigeration, air conditioning, foam-blowing agents and aerosols.

“Formulating the methane action plan is an important element in controlling non-carbon dioxide emissions … and is important work in China’s national strategy to actively respond to climate change and an important measure to implement the China-US joint Glasgow declaration,” Lu said.

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Meanwhile, Lu said the release of the joint declaration played a key role in the success of COP26, showing “pragmatic cooperation and the ambition of the two nations [in combating climate change]”. He said it boosted “the confidence of all parties” at the summit.

In the joint declaration, the two nations committed to tackling climate change by accelerating their actions during the critical 2020s and cooperating in areas related to cutting greenhouse gas emissions, the circular economy and the deployment and application of low-carbon technology. They intend to establish a working group and will meet regularly to address the climate crisis.

02:29

China and US unveil deal to cooperate on cutting emissions, phasing out coal and protecting forests

Lu told the press conference that the biggest obstacle preventing developing countries from taking stronger action was the lack of support from developed countries.

“The level of support provided by developed countries for mitigation and adaptation should match the level of climate action in developing countries,” he said.

He added that as developed countries and developing countries were at different starting points, it was unfair to require them to achieve carbon neutrality at the same time and to enhance climate action indiscriminately.

“It’s neither fair nor feasible,” he said.

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