This year, scientists are emphasizing the importance of focusing on methane as a potent greenhouse gas in order to prevent catastrophic global warming. A report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released Monday urges countries to reduce methane emissions quickly and significantly, in addition to reducing CO2 emissions. This plea may be concerning for countries that have been turning to natural gas as a cleaner alternative to coal, and could present challenges for countries with significant agriculture and livestock industries, particularly cattle. Despite both methane and CO2 contributing to warming the atmosphere, they are not equal in their impact. According to the report reviewer Durwood Zaelke, a single CO2 molecule may cause less warming than a methane molecule, but CO2 remains in the atmosphere for hundreds of years while methane disappears within two decades. Zaelke emphasized the importance of reducing methane emissions, stating that cutting methane is the most effective and quickest strategy for slowing down global warming. The current global temperature is already 1.1C higher than the preindustrial average due to emissions dating back to the mid-1800s, which is why there is a focus on reducing methane emissions now. The report suggests that without pollution reflecting some of the sun's radiation back into space, the world would have experienced an additional 0.5C of warming. As the world moves away from fossil fuels and addresses air pollution, the aerosols causing this reflection will disappear, potentially causing temperatures to rise. The quick reduction of methane emissions could help counteract this effect and improve air quality, according to Maisa Rojas Corradi, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Chile and author of the IPCC report summary. Methane emissions are responsible for around 30% of global warming since the pre-industrial era, as stated by the United Nations. The role of methane, aerosols, and other short-lived climate pollutants had not been previously discussed by the IPCC. Jane Lubchenco, deputy director for climate and environment at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, highlighted the immediate advantages of significant decreases in methane levels, not only in terms of atmospheric concentration but also in the positive impacts on human health due to improved air quality. Recent technological advancements and research indicate that methane emissions from various sources such as oil and gas production, landfills, and livestock may have been underestimated. Mark Brownstein, senior vice president of energy at Environmental Defense Fund, emphasized the importance of incorporating aggressive methane reduction plans into climate strategies for countries that produce and consume oil and gas. While addressing landfill and energy company emissions may be more feasible, tackling large-scale agricultural methane emissions poses a greater challenge as adequate replacement technology is not yet available. This year, the EU is proposing laws that will require oil and gas companies to monitor and report methane emissions, as well as fix any leaks. The United States is expected to introduce methane regulations by September that are tougher than those implemented under the Obama administration and later repealed by former President Donald Trump. Together, the US and the EU make up over a third of global natural gas consumption. Countries like Brazil and Russia, which lack strict regulations on oil and gas production and agriculture, are likely significant methane emitters according to IPCC co-author Paulo Artaxo, an environmental physicist at the University of Sao Paulo. Artaxo noted that quantifying methane leakage from gas and oil wells is a challenging task. If nations do not actively search for it, they will not discover it. Various environmental organizations and government leaders are advocating for a worldwide agreement on methane, similar to the Montreal Protocol which addressed ozone depletion. This agreement could initially focus on methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, as they already possess the necessary technology to reduce these emissions, according to Armond Cohen, executive director of the Clean Air Task Force, a climate technology group based in Boston. Cohen stated that controlling methane emissions is not a complex task and does not require advanced technology. "So let's begin from that point."