China releases methane control plan with no reduction target

(EurActiv, 8 Nov 2023) China has unveiled a broad plan to control its methane emissions, though the world’s biggest emitter of the polluting gases is offering no specific target for reducing them.

Beijing and Washington held climate talks this weekend in California, raising new hopes for headway at the COP28 summit in Dubai.

China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases and biggest producer of methane, mainly from its coal mining industry.

It has promised action on methane but not signed a global pledge backed by the United States and European Union on slashing the gas, which has a shorter lifespan in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide but is far more potent.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) said last month that “immediate reductions” in methane emissions were needed to limit climate warming.

In a broad plan released by its Ministry of Ecology and Environment late Tuesday, Beijing said it would aim to strengthen “emission monitoring, accounting, reporting and verification systems” and offered broad steps to improve “methane emission control in the energy sector”.

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EurActiv, 8 Nov 2023: China releases methane control plan with no reduction target