1) Methane is responsible for at about .5 C of the global warming that has occurred to date*. That is about a third of total warming.
2) Anthropogenic methane emissions are rising, and methane is accumulating in the atmosphere faster than it is "dissipated." This means the additional methane causes additional warming year on year.
3) When 1 kg methane "dissipates" over several generations, it doesn't disappear-- it (through chemical reactions) forms 2.75 kg CO2 + water vapor. -- i.e. continuing anthropogenic methane emissions will increase global warming in both the short and long term.
We may not share the value of caring about social equity, and we may differ in our opinions about how much damage to today's ecosystems will affect "nature" a hundred year's hence.
But we might end up agreeing that it's not an either/or question-- Both carbon dioxide and methane emissions reductions matter.
Professor Perona is a highly-qualified, well-informed voice bringing needed balance and context to one of the most important problems of our current day.
Adding some food for thought:
1) Methane is responsible for at about .5 C of the global warming that has occurred to date*. That is about a third of total warming.
2) Anthropogenic methane emissions are rising, and methane is accumulating in the atmosphere faster than it is "dissipated." This means the additional methane causes additional warming year on year.
3) When 1 kg methane "dissipates" over several generations, it doesn't disappear-- it (through chemical reactions) forms 2.75 kg CO2 + water vapor. -- i.e. continuing anthropogenic methane emissions will increase global warming in both the short and long term.
We may not share the value of caring about social equity, and we may differ in our opinions about how much damage to today's ecosystems will affect "nature" a hundred year's hence.
But we might end up agreeing that it's not an either/or question-- Both carbon dioxide and methane emissions reductions matter.
*https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/News/2024/September/Methane-emissions-increase-by-20-per-cent-in-20-years
Professor Perona is a highly-qualified, well-informed voice bringing needed balance and context to one of the most important problems of our current day.