Climate Facts: Methane's warming potential 80 times greater than carbon dioxide, says UNEP

Climate Facts: Methane’s warming potential 80 times greater than carbon dioxide, says UNEP

May 10

15:30 2023

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The complexities of climate change and its associated jargon can make it difficult to digest. TheCable’s climate quick facts will help to demystify these climate concepts through easy-to-understand and straight-to-the-point explanations.

Here are some to keep at the tip of your fingers:

To prevent warming beyond 1.5°C, emissions need to be reduced by 7.6 percent every year till 2030, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The risk of heat-related illness and death will be lower at 1.5°C warming than at 2°C, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Warming of 1.5°C to 2°C will lead to a reduction of rainforest biomass and will increase deforestation and wildfires, according to NASA.
Methane is a powerful pollutant with a global warming potential over 80 times greater than carbon dioxide (CO2), according to UNEP.
UNEP says the International Energy Agency estimates that over 75 percent of methane emissions could be mitigated with technology that exists today – and up to 40 percent at no net cost.