Urgent Call for Enhanced Methane Reduction Tech Transfer in Developing Countries

Data reveals that the concentration of methane in the atmosphere has more than doubled since the onset of the first industrial revolution. In 2022, it reached a record high, resulting in the greenhouse effect and contributing to global warming.

Methane is a prominent climate pollutant with a short lifespan and a significant potential for temperature increase. By reducing methane emissions, we can directly reduce its abundance in the atmosphere. As a result, substantial reductions in methane emissions are widely recognized as an effective means to mitigate short-term climate warming.

The development and dissemination of technologies for methane emission reduction are pivotal in achieving large-scale reductions. However, a standardized technology or patent classification system for governing methane emissions has yet to be established.

Research indicates that global high-quality methane reduction inventions experienced continuous growth from 1990 to 2010, but between 2010 and 2019, they showed an average annual decline of approximately 3.5%. In comparison to technologies aimed at reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions, the international diffusion rate of methane emission reduction technology stands at around 11.1%. Moreover, the transfer of methane emission reduction technology primarily occurs between developed countries, with some flows towards China, Brazil, and other nations, while the majority of less developed countries remain largely unaffected.

Furthermore, studies have revealed that a few developed countries possess more than half of the world's high-quality methane reduction inventions. Consequently, methane emissions in these countries have slowed down and, in some cases, even decreased in recent years.

Most developing countries, particularly those with significant methane emissions from agricultural and waste sources, are witnessing a growth in such emissions. This trend is expected to become the primary driver of global methane emissions in the future. However, these countries and regions have made limited progress in inventing methane reduction technologies. Consequently, there is an urgent need for the international community to enhance the transfer of methane emission reduction technologies and provide technical assistance to developing countries and the least developed regions.