UN targets methane emissions with satellite detection

MARS (Methane Alert and Response System) has been set up in response to the growing threat of methane emissions, which are believed to be responsible for around a quarter of Earth’s anthropogenic warming to date. Under the Global Methane Pledge, methane emissions must be cut by 30 per cent by 2030 to retain any chance of keeping the 1.5°C Paris target alive. The MARS platform has been established by the United Nation’s Environmental Programme (UNEP) in an effort to achieve that goal.

“Cutting methane is the fastest opportunity to reduce warming and keep 1.5°C within reach, and this new alert and response system is going to be a critical tool for helping all of us deliver on the Global Methane Pledge,” said John Kerry, US special presidential envoy for Climate.

While methane is much more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, it remains in the atmosphere for a significantly shorter time, having a sharp, pronounced warming effect. This means that tackling methane emissions can have an outsized impact on the global heating Earth is currently experiencing.

“As UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report showed before this (COP 27) climate summit, the world is far off track on efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C,” said Inger Andersen, executive director of UNEP.

“Reducing methane emissions can make a big and rapid difference, as this gas leaves the atmosphere far quicker than carbon dioxide. The Methane Alert and Response System is a big step in helping governments and companies deliver on this important short-term climate goal.”

Beginning with very large point sources from the energy sector, MARS will integrate data from an expanding system of methane-detecting satellites to include lower-emitting area sources and more frequent detection. Data on coal, waste, livestock and rice will be gradually incorporated into MARS to support implementation of the Global Methane Pledge.  

"The Methane Alert and Response System is an important new tool to help pinpoint major methane leaks,” said Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency.

“As IEA analysis has highlighted, transparency is a vital part of the solution to tackle the methane problem, and this new system will help producers detect leaks and stop them without delay if and when they occur.”