Many Aussies assume the nation’s methane downside is attributable to farts from livestock however coal mines are additionally huge emitters.
The annual international methane tracker report exhibits Australia was the world’s sixth-largest emitter of methane from coal mines in 2022.
The International Energy Agency calculates Australia’s coal mines emitted 1.7 million tonnes of methane in 2022, equal to 140 million tonnes of carbon and greater than double the annual emissions of all Australia’s vehicles.
The newest report highlights the simplest methods to restrict coal mine methane emissions, along with lowering consumption of coal.
There are viable, low-cost applied sciences that would greater than halve coal’s methane emissions internationally, the report discovered.
Annika Reynolds, methane adviser at vitality suppose tank Ember, mentioned Australia has been considerably underestimating its coal mine methane downside.
“The sector, in partnership with government, needs to improve how it measures and mitigates methane as a first priority,” she mentioned.
“The IEA’s report shows that it is possible to tackle more than half the world’s coal mine methane emissions at low cost,” she mentioned.
Methane is an intense greenhouse fuel that’s accountable for nearly a 3rd of the rise in international temperatures because the industrial revolution, in keeping with the IEA.
The company says the vitality sector – together with oil, fuel, coal and bioenergy – accounts for practically 40 per cent of methane emissions from human exercise.
“Emissions are still far too high and not falling fast enough, especially as methane cuts are among the cheapest options to limit near-term global warming,” IEA head Fatih Birol mentioned.
“There is just no excuse,” he mentioned.
The Albanese authorities final yr signed a worldwide pledge to cut back methane emissions from human actions by 30 per cent by 2030.
Australia may ship two-thirds of that dedication by tackling coal mines as a significant supply of emissions, analysis by Ember has discovered.
The Australian Conservation Foundation mentioned it was “methane madness” to not act as the extreme greenhouse fuel is greater than 80 instances extra damaging to the environment over 20 years than carbon dioxide.
“While farmers in Australia are working to reduce the methane from their livestock, we have not seen the same initiative from the coal and gas sector,” ACF spokeswoman Suzanne Harter mentioned
“There are strong indications companies are under-reporting methane emissions, often relying on estimates rather than direct measurement,” she added.
She mentioned satellite tv for pc knowledge has discovered some coal mines emit considerably extra methane than they report, and increasing coal operations would lock in these uncontrolled emissions for years.
The IEA mentioned satellites are offering an ever-clearer image of methane emissions, together with uncontrolled big-emitting occasions throughout fossil gas manufacturing.
The international tracker incorporates their newest readings together with knowledge from different science-based measurement campaigns.
Separately, a research by Princeton University and Colorado State University launched final month discovered methane leaks from offshore fuel and oil tasks are considerably underestimated globally.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
