Nearly 100 countries pledge to cut methane emissions

Close to 100 countries have committed to cutting back on the potent greenhouse gas methane at the Cop26 climate summit. The nations have agreed to slash methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030, when compared to levels in 2020.

- DAISY DUNNE

Brazil is among new signatories to the Global Methane Pledge, a deal spearheaded by the US and the European Union. But several of the top-five methane emitters, including China, Russia and India, have not yet signed the pledge.

Formally announcing the agreement at an event at the summit today, president Joe Biden described it as a “game-changing commitment” in the fight against the climate crisis. The multicountry effort to slash methane, a short-lived but potent greenhouse gas, was first announced in September.

“At the time, nine countries had signed on. Today it’s over 80 and approaching 100 countries,” Mr Biden said. “It’s going to make a huge difference, not just when it comes to fighting climate change. It’s going to improve health, reduce asthma and respiratory-related emergencies. It’s going to improve food supplies by cutting crop losses.”