China and other emitters can cut methane emissions if they want to: IEA report

Technology exists to curb the greenhouse gas but despite its potent warming potential, levels increased slightly last year

Beijing has a methane reduction plan but argues that developing countries lack the capabilities to control emissions

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China’s coal sector is mostly responsible for the country’s place as the world’s largest methane emitter from fossil fuels. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 10:00am, 15 Mar 2024

China and other major emitters could use existing technologies to ramp up their efforts to cut methane emissions from fossil fuels, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Despite its shorter lifespan in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide, methane has a more potent warming potential and is responsible for nearly a third of the rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution, the IEA said.

As the world’s largest methane emitter from fossil fuels, China accounts for an estimated 17.5 per cent of the 120 million tonnes of total global emissions, mostly from the coal sector.

The US and Russia rank second and third, respectively and derive most of their emissions from oil and gas.

At last year’s Cop28 summit, China’s top climate envoy Xie Zhenhua said the country was taking steps to reduce its methane emissions, but that China and other developing countries “still lack the capabilities” to control emissions.

However, in its Global Methane Tracker report released on Wednesday, the IEA said that technology to curb methane emissions from oil, gas and coal operations required “no technological breakthroughs”.