Spike in methane emissions from tropical wetlands threatens climate goals

From 2020 to 2022, methane concentrations in the atmosphere hit their highest levels since measurements began in the 1980s. Studies attribute the surge to tropical regions, with the Congo, Southeast Asia, the Amazon, and southern Brazil as major contributors. Data from Nature Climate Change revealed wetland emissions exceeded worst-case projections by 500,000 tonnes annually over the past two decades.

Stanford environmental scientist Rob Jackson noted that methane levels have risen faster in the last five years than at any other time in recorded history. Satellite data and chemical analysis have identified tropical wetlands as a key source of this increase.

The La Niña climate pattern, which ended in 2023, partly explains the spike, but scientists say other factors are at play. Drew Shindell of Duke University cautioned, “We should probably be a bit more worried than we are.”

Governments face mounting pressure to address methane emissions, particularly as the UN Paris climate agreement aims to limit warming to 1.5°C. According to Zhen Qu of North Carolina State University, wetland emissions could complicate plans to cut methane and carbon dioxide emissions.

Despite global pledges to cut methane by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030, emissions from fossil fuels remain high. The International Energy Agency’s 2024 Global Methane Tracker reported record levels of fossil fuel-related methane emissions since 2019. Efforts to tackle oil and gas leaks have seen limited success, with countries responding to just 12 of over 1,000 identified methane plumes in the last two years.

Some nations are taking steps. China has pledged to reduce flaring at oil and gas sites, while the US introduced a methane fee for large producers under President Joe Biden’s administration. However, the policy is likely to be revoked by Donald Trump’s incoming presidency.

In the Congo Basin, the largest source of tropical wetland methane emissions, Environment Minister Eve Bazaiba said the country is assessing its methane levels. “We don’t know how much [methane is coming off our wetlands],” she stated, emphasising the need for investments in monitoring and inventory efforts.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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