UN: Early warning protects against devastation and methane reduction could quickly change the course of global warming

The statements of the Secretary-General of the United Nations came in his speech before the special session of the World Meteorological Conference in order to accelerate the pace of the “Early Warning for All” initiative and expand its scope, which Guterres launched in 2022. “To ensure everyone, everywhere is protected with early warning systems by 2027”.

More than 60% of countries report having multi-hazard early warning systems, while least developed countries have almost doubled their capacities since the start of official reporting, while developments in digital technology and artificial intelligence are enabling advances in data sharing and warning. But the Secretary-General pointed out that: “There is still a long way to go”.

Guterres praised the role of the World Meteorological Organization and its transformation of data and understanding into… “Life-saving work”He added that had it not been for the organization “We would never have understood the emergence of the serious and existential threat of climate change.”.

Integrating early warning into policies

The Secretary-General emphasized that achieving the desired vision regarding early warning systems requires governments to integrate early warning systems into their policies, institutions and budgets.

And he said: “Reaching every community requires a significant increase in funding.”. But he warned that many developing countries were hampered by limited fiscal space, slow growth, crushing debt burdens and rising systemic risks.

He also stressed that “The problem of climate disasters must be addressed at its source.”The planet is witnessing a rapid rise in temperature.

He pointed out that at the United Nations climate conference scheduled in Brazil next month, countries must present bold new national action plans on climate.

He also stressed the need to combat misinformation, online harassment, and the promotion of misleading environmental ideas, adding: “Scientists and researchers should not be afraid to tell the truth.”.

Methane emission and global warming

On the other hand, the United Nations Environment Program said that reducing methane emissions could urgently change the course of global warming, “This gives us more time for long-term decarbonization efforts.”Noting that the responses of governments and industry to more than 3,500 notifications issued by the program regarding methane emissions increased from 1 percent to 12 percent over the past year.

The program explained in a new report issued today, Wednesday, entitled: “A look at methane: from measurement to momentum We need to accelerate action to limit global warming and achieve the Global Methane Pledge goal of reducing methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030.

The report of the International Methane Emissions Observatory of the United Nations Environment Program stated that member companies of the Observatory’s Oil, Gas and Methane Partnership will be able to track a third of the emissions resulting from global production using realistic measurements.

Although government and business responses to notifications issued by the Methane Notification and Response System have increased tenfold compared to the previous year, nearly 90 percent of them remain unresponsive, according to the report.

Data-driven tools

Atmospheric methane is the second largest cause of climate change after carbon dioxide, and is responsible for about a third of global warming.

Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, said it was encouraging that data-based tools were helping the oil and gas sector report its emissions and set ambitious mitigation targets.

And to remain goals Paris Agreement For climate change within reach, Andersen stressed the importance of translating progress in reporting into actual emissions reductions. She continued: “Every company should join the Oil, Gas and Methane 2.0 Partnership, and governments and operators must respond to satellite notifications – and then work to reduce emissions.”

Greater transparency but more work is needed

The Oil, Gas and Methane Partnership 2.0 is the global standard for measuring and mitigating methane emissions in the oil and gas sector, and forms the basis for methane-related legislation in the European Union, the world’s largest import market.

Over the past five years, membership has doubled to 153 companies in several countries, covering 42 percent of global oil and gas production.

Overall, a third of global oil and gas production reports or will soon begin reporting emissions according to the partnership’s “gold standard,” meaning emissions are tracked with field measurements. This enables a large segment of global industry to effectively measure emissions, and thus mitigate them.