Madrid, July 24 (EFE) – Methane (CH4) emissions have a significant environmental impact, with an alarming 30% stemming from natural sources, mainly wetlands. However, 60% of methane emissions are human-induced, primarily resulting from the extraction, processing, and burning of fossil fuels.
A recent report by the Fundación Renovables outlines the methane leakage in Spain and other importing countries. This greenhouse gas is responsible for a staggering 30% of global temperature rise, possessing a warming potential up to 82 times greater than carbon dioxide (CO2). The report calls for the establishment of a National Plan to curb methane emissions.
One of the key points highlighted is that while methane has a shorter lifespan in the atmosphere compared to CO2, reducing its emissions can lead to a more immediate impact in the fight against climate change.
The analysis included data from various satellites that monitor methane emissions linked to the oil, gas, coal, and waste sectors. According to the International Energy Agency, emissions from fossil fuels reached 120 million tons in 2023 alone. Additionally, it tracks sporadic or uncontrolled methane leaks occurring worldwide, which can range from one to twenty tons per hour.
In 2023, methane emissions from oil and gas exploration and production were approximately 40,000 metric tons. This amount equals the CO2 emissions generated by the consumption of 2.8 million barrels of crude oil. Moreover, the waste sector has seen significant increases in methane leaks, with 27,000 tons emitted in the past year alone—enough energy to charge 94 billion smartphones.
The International Methane Emissions Observatory reported that from 2022 to mid-2024, there were a total of 3,697 methane leaks globally, releasing an estimated 74,623 tons into the atmosphere. This figure is comparable to the emissions produced by nearly 465,000 gasoline-powered cars over a year.
When examining Spain and its energy importers in 2023, the report detailed methane leaks from key energy-exporting countries such as the United States (366 leaks), Algeria (354), Iraq (88), Libya (82), Mexico (44), Russia (63), Kazakhstan (37), Saudi Arabia (28), and Egypt (25). Since Spain does not have its own fossil fuel sources, no leaks were recorded from its energy sector; instead, 29 leaks from landfills were reported, emitting 212 tons of methane, equivalent to the CO2 emissions from the annual electricity consumption of 1,155 homes.
In light of these findings, Fundación Renovables has called for a National Methane Reduction Plan. This plan should incorporate measures laid out in the specific regulations approved by the EU and set sector-specific emission reduction targets for agriculture, waste, and fossil fuels. It also requires the implementation of concrete steps to meet these objectives.
Among the proposed measures are determining total national emissions by sector, setting global and sectoral reduction targets for 2030, securing specific funding commitments, and assessing the health and social impacts of emissions and identifying measures to mitigate these effects.
This urgent call to action underscores the need for immediate and effective strategies to address methane emissions and their contribution to climate change.
Read more about methane emissions and climate change.
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