Scientific Publications Beyond CO2 equivalence: The impacts of methane on climate, ecosystems, and health Published 2022 Share SHARE Facebook share Twitter LinkedIn Copy URL Email Breadcrumb Home Resource Library Beyond CO2 equivalence: The impacts of methane on climate, ecosystems, and health This article reviews the physical and chemical properties of methane (CH4) relevant to impacts on climate, ecosystems, and air pollution, and examine the extent to which this is reflected in climate and air pollution governance. Although CH4 is governed under the UNFCCC climate regime, its treatment there is limited to the ways in which it acts as a “CO2 equivalent” climate forcer on a 100-year time frame. The UNFCCC framework neglects the impacts that CH4 has on near-term climate, as well its impacts on human health and ecosystems, which are primarily mediated by methane’s role as a precursor to tropospheric ozone. Frameworks for air quality governance generally address tropospheric ozone as a pollutant, but do not regulate CH4 itself. Methane’s climate and air quality impacts, together with its alarming rise in atmospheric concentrations in recent years, make it clear that mitigation of CH4 emissions needs to be accelerated globally.The article examines challenges and opportunities for further progress on CH4 mitigation within the international governance landscapes for climate change and air pollution. Access the publication here Authors Research Institute for Sustainability Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS) Tags Themes National policy and planning Regions Global Similar resources Event Documents 2023 15 February 2023 Waste Hub Insight Meeting - Resources Reports, Case Studies & Assessments 2023 Tracking Urban Health Policies Scientific Publications 2021 Learning by Doing: Co-Benefits Drive National Plans for Climate and Air Quality Governance Scientific Publications 2021 One Atmosphere: Integrating Air Pollution and Climate Policy and Governance
Scientific Publications 2021 Learning by Doing: Co-Benefits Drive National Plans for Climate and Air Quality Governance
Scientific Publications 2021 One Atmosphere: Integrating Air Pollution and Climate Policy and Governance