By Bahle Gama
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) says the methane leak following an incident on the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines, in the Baltic Sea last September is a drop in the ocean.
The UNEP analyzed the magnitude of the methane that leaked as it is at the forefront of methane emissions reduction in line with the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global temperature rise well below 2°C.
The analysis, produced by UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO), an initiative that drives action on methane, estimates the plausible range of total methane emissions leaked during the incident as 75-230 kt.
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UNEP synthesised estimates of the Nord Stream leak produced by several research organisations. It then integrated them with the only in-situ measurements performed by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), as commissioned by IMEO.
UNEP Chief Scientist Dr. Andrea Hinwood said the analysis contributes to closing the knowledge gap on how important methane emissions are and where they are emitted across the planet. It also reduces the uncertainty associated with the methane leak.
“This analysis shows that it is important to consider complementary observation and estimation methods to characterise methane emissions. This was key to assessing the amount of methane emitted during the Nord Stream leak,” said Dr Hinwood.
She further stated that IMEO’s work showcases that using different observation and estimation tools is essential to enable the assessment of the magnitude of emissions, a first step towards prioritising actions to reduce methane emissions.
To assess the Nord Stream leak, IMEO’s scientists used various data sources, such as tower measurements, for example, data gathered and post-processed after applying various atmospheric data integration methods, satellite-based estimates, aerial measurements, and engineering calculations.
The UNEP has emphasized how imperative it is to put the Nord Stream leak into perspective considering that the analysis suggests that the amount of methane leaked represents less than 0.1 per cent of the total annual human-made methane emissions.
It also amounts to the methane emissions the oil and gas industry releases in a single day, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Head of IMEO Manfredi Caltagirone said that “While enormous for a single event, the Nord Stream incident is a drop in the ocean compared to the amount of methane released globally. This reminds us it has never been more urgent to cut methane now if we want to tackle climate change in the short-term.”
UNEP’s work revolves around two pillars: data and policy. UNEP supports companies and governments across the globe to use its unique global database of empirically verified methane emissions to target strategic mitigation actions and support science-based policy options through the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO).
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UNEP also fosters high-level commitments through advocacy work and supports countries to implement measures that reduce methane emissions through the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). Both initiatives are core implementers of the Global Methane Pledge.
UNEP has reported that it will keep investigating large methane emissions events using the best science available, such as satellites. At COP 27, UNEP launched its Methane Alert and Response System (MARS), a high-tech, satellite-based global methane detection system that identifies major emission events.
This ground-breaking system, managed by IMEO in collaboration with the IEA and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, then notifies relevant stakeholders to allow them to respond.
Methane plays a critical role in tackling climate change. Emissions of this powerful greenhouse gas have soared faster than at any time since the 1980s and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change urges to cut methane emissions by at least 30 per cent by 2030 to keep the 1.5°C temperature limit within reach.
“To catalyse action to curb emissions of this potent gas, UNEP’s IMEO is establishing a global, public database of methane emissions at an unprecedented level of accuracy and granularity. Since methane is key to tackle tackling climate change, this leak emphasises the urgent need to mitigate emissions of this powerful greenhouse gas, which contributes at least a quarter of today’s climate warming,” says the UNEP.
