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Climate change
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US-EU to push for global deal to slash Earth-warming methane by 30 per cent

  • US and EU will target two dozen countries, including China, to join their pledge
  • World leaders under pressure for more ambitious action to curb climate change at Glasgow summit

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Experts say the fossil fuel sector has the biggest potential to cut methane emissions this decade by mending leaky pipelines or gas storage facilities. Photo: Reuters
Reuters

The United States and the European Union have agreed to aim to cut emissions of the planet-warming gas methane by around a third by the end of this decade and are pushing other major economies to join them, according to documents seen by Reuters.

Their pact comes as Washington and Brussels seek to galvanise other major economies ahead of a world summit to address climate change in Glasgow, Scotland, in November, and could have a significant impact on the energy, agriculture and waste industries responsible for the bulk of methane emissions.
The greenhouse gas methane, the biggest cause of climate change after carbon dioxide (CO2), is facing more scrutiny as governments seek solutions to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a goal of the Paris climate agreement.
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In an attempt to jump-start the action, the United States and the EU later this week will make a joint pledge to reduce human-caused methane emissions by at least 30 per cent by 2030, compared with 2020 levels, according to a draft of the Global Methane Pledge seen by Reuters.

“The short atmospheric lifetime of methane means that taking action now can rapidly reduce the rate of global warming,” the draft said.

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What is China doing about climate change?

What is China doing about climate change?

A separate document listed over two dozen countries that the United States and the EU will target to join the pledge. They include major emitters such as China, Russia, India, Brazil and Saudi Arabia, as well as others including Norway, Qatar, Britain, New Zealand and South Africa.

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