Climate and Clean Air Coalition convenes countries and experts to accelerate action on methane abatement and avoid the worst of the climate crisis

Geneva, 22 March 2024 – At the Global Methane Forum 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland from March 18 to 21, and through an associated M-RAP workshop from March 21 to 22, the UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition brought together countries and experts to accelerate action on reducing methane emissions and enhance inclusion of methane reduction measures in NDCs.  

NDCs are at the heart of limiting warming, embodying efforts by each country to reduce national emissions. Inclusion of methane into countries 2035 NDCs and new BTRs, in a way that enables tracking of progress under the GMP, will be critical to tap into climate finance and keep our 1.5 °C target within reach.  

Martina Otto, Head of UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition Secretariat said: “This year is critical in including methane reduction targets and measures more explicitly in NDC reviews, thereby unlocking finance. Only with investments in methane reductions alongside decarbonisation efforts will we bend the curve fast enough. Our Methane Roadmap Action Programme and its associated workshops provide a unique opportunity for countries to include methane and other super pollutants in their upcoming NDC 3.0.”  

At the M-RAP workshop in Geneva, through expert assistance, knowledge sharing, and direct peer-to-peer exchanges, the CCAC introduced new countries to its methodology for development and implementation of transparent and consistent national methane roadmaps ​or Action Plans. Representatives from Azerbaijan, Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Rwanda, and Kyrgyzstan participated in the workshop.

National planning for methane abatement supports coordinated and accelerated progress on identification and development of relevant methane targeted measures and supporting policies, including in the context of NDCs revision.
 

Image

Methane Roadmap Action Programme (M-RAP) workshop convened by CCAC in partnership with the World Meteorological Organisation at the WMO Headquarters in Geneva, 21-22 March 2024

Throughout the workshop, participants heard from key experts in the climate space, including presentations on WMO activities related to greenhouse gases such as the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch (G3W) and the Integrated Global Greenhouse Gas Information System (IG3IS) that seek to fill critical information gaps related to greenhouse gas monitoring at different spatial and temporal scales. “The WMO was pleased to host this important M-RAP workshop, a crucial collaboration in bolstering action on methane”, said Oksana Tarasova, Senior Scientific Officer, Infrastructure Department, WMO. “With this suite of tools provided by the WMO, we can strengthen the actionable information with global partners, helping to contribute to more robust actions on greenhouse gas, including methane.”

Speaking at the workshop, Aynur Mutallimova, the Acting Head of the Climate Change Subdivision of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, underscored Azerbaijan’s commitment as host of COP29 to focus on an integrated approach to reduce super pollutants. “With Azerbaijan’s recent signing of the Global Methane Pledge, we are sending a strong signal to the world that international cooperation is key to meeting this important target and fighting climate change”.

At this critical juncture in addressing the climate crisis, the world cannot afford another missed opportunity. By urgently raising our collective ambition in targeting super pollutants such as methane, we can ensure a cleaner, more livable planet for generations to come.

***

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)  

The UNEP-Convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is a partnership of over 160 governments, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations. It works to reduce powerful but short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) – methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone – that drive both climate change and air pollution. It aims to connect ambitious agenda setting with targeted mitigation action within countries and sectors. Robust science and analysis underpin its efforts and bolstered by its Trust Fund, it has given rise to high level political commitment, in-country support, and a range of tools that help make the case for action and support implementation.

For more information, please contact:

Vincent Hughes, Communications and Media Consultant, Climate and Clean Air Coalition Secretariat at United Nations Environment Programme – Vincent.Hughes [at] un.org (Vincent[dot]Hughes[at]un[dot]org)

Ava Bahrami, Communications Officer, Climate and Clean Air Coalition Secretariat at United Nations Environment Programme – Ava.Bahrami [at] un.org (Ava[dot]Bahrami[at]un[dot]org)