Zeroing in on methane diplomacy at COP29
Context
From November 11 to 22, 2024, Baku, Azerbaijan, will host the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Dimensions of the Article:
- Highlights
- About Methane Diplomacy
- Challenges
- Significance of the COP29 summit
Highlights:
- Known as the “Finance COP,” this summit aims to bring world leaders together to set a new global climate finance goal after 15 years.
- This “new collective quantified goal” (NCQG) will chart a path for future climate investments.
- Azerbaijan’s agenda features ambitious initiatives to boost energy efficiency, such as expanding battery storage and reducing methane emissions. Methane, responsible for about 30% of global warming since pre-industrial times, is a significant focus due to its rapid atmospheric increase and extreme potency—28 times more impactful than carbon dioxide over 100 years and 84 times more intense over a 20-year timeframe. Reducing methane is vital for slowing short-term warming and bridging the gap for the long-term CO2 reductions required to stabilise climate change.
About Methane Diplomacy:
- Amid ongoing diplomatic tensions, the U.S. and China found common ground on curbing non-CO2 emissions, such as methane, aligning for the 2023 COP28 in Dubai.
- Together with the UAE, they sponsored a summit on methane management. China also released its first national plan addressing methane emissions, signalling a shift towards coordinated methane action.
- India, the world’s third-largest emitter of methane, has an opportunity to leverage this diplomatic momentum, particularly with sector-specific aid. According to India’s latest climate report, methane emissions in 2016 amounted to 409 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent.
- Agriculture accounted for 74% of this, with 14% from waste, 11% from energy, and a smaller portion from industrial sources. Methane reduction strategies, especially in waste management, could be bolstered with international support, helping India scale down emissions in a targeted, sector-specific way.
Challenges:
- India faces specific challenges in reducing methane.
- Agriculture, particularly livestock and rice cultivation, is the largest methane emitter.
- Yet, this sector is essential to India’s economy, creating hesitancy around setting sweeping methane reduction goals.
- Additionally, India hasn’t signed the Global Methane Pledge initiated by the U.S. and the EU at COP28, which targets a 30% methane cut by 2030 from 2020 levels. Another significant hurdle is waste management, despite regulatory frameworks.
- Although the government has initiated effective programmes, like Indore’s waste sorting model and the GOBARdhan scheme, local-level execution remains inconsistent.
- Many cities struggle to adopt comprehensive organic waste management due to a lack of resources and technical expertise, especially when emissions are underestimated—data suggests dumpsites alone may contribute more than a quarter of Mumbai’s greenhouse gases.
Significance of the COP29 summit:
- Mitigating Climate Change: Methane has a much higher global warming potential than CO₂ , making its reduction crucial for controlling short-term temperature rise. Addressing methane can help buy time for longer-term CO₂ cuts, stabilising climate change more effectively.
- Global Cooperation and Diplomacy: The U.S.-China methane partnership and COP29’s focus on methane provide a diplomatic opening for India. By participating in this alliance, India can strengthen ties with major global players and gain sector-specific support.
- Economic Benefits and Sustainable Development: Reducing methane emissions in sectors like agriculture and waste management can improve public health and lead to more sustainable economic practices, including innovative waste-to-energy projects like India’s GOBARdhan scheme.
- Enhanced Data and Monitoring: International support can help improve methane emissions tracking in India, leading to more accurate data and effective mitigation strategies. This is essential as current estimates, especially in waste management, may underestimate actual emissions.
- Climate Finance Opportunities: As COP29 is branded as the “Finance COP,” India has the opportunity to secure financing for methane reduction initiatives. Access to global climate funds could accelerate India’s methane abatement efforts, benefiting both local and global environments.
Way Forward
- India’s path forward at COP29 involves a strong diplomatic push to capitalise on the U.S.-China methane partnership. By focusing on specific sectors like waste management, India can secure much-needed financing and technical assistance to strengthen its mitigation strategies.
- Successful models, such as Indore’s biomethane plant and the climate-friendly practices under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, show promise but require scaling up.
- International support for data improvement, financing, and technical know-how could fast-track methane reduction and boost India’s overall climate resilience. With strategic negotiations and targeted requests for aid, COP29 offers India a pivotal moment to bridge the methane gap and accelerate its climate action efforts.
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