Measurements by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show that methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases, is increasing at the fastest rate we’ve seen in recorded history. Atmospheric methane levels increased by 17 parts per billion (ppb) in 2021, the largest rise in a year since scientists began recording atmospheric methane levels in 1983, NOAA said.
The new numbers significantly surpass the already frightening 2020 record of 15.3 ppb, when methane rose by 15.3 ppb. According to NOAA, the amount of methane in the atmosphere currently hovers around 1,895.7 ppb on average. That is, the amount of methane in the atmosphere is 163% higher than pre-industrial levels and 15% higher than it was between 1984 and 2006. “Our data shows that global emissions continue to move rapidly in the wrong direction,” NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad
said in a statement. “The evidence is consistent, worrying, and undeniable.”
Unlike carbon dioxide that stays in the atmosphere for a long time, methane only stays in the atmosphere for about 12 years, making it less important to consider for longer-term warming scenarios. However, although it is withdrawn from the atmosphere in a relatively short time, it has a fairly large effect during its stay in the atmosphere: 86 times more potent than CO2 over a 20-year period, that is, it can cause much more damage in a relatively short time. As the effects of climate change continue to mount, it is becoming increasingly clear that one of the first steps to controlling our fugitive emissions must be figuring out how to reduce methane emissions and slow some of the severe warming we are seeing in the short term.
“It is an important tool we can use now to reduce methane emissions, mitigate the effects of climate change in the near term and rapidly reduce the rate of warming,” says Spinrad.
In addition, while methane levels are increasing, the increase in carbon dioxide levels continues to rise.
Fortunately, methane is probably one of the easiest climate problems to solve, in part because we know where man-made methane comes from (agriculture and oil and gas primarily) and we have a wealth of technologies at our disposal that can help solve the problems. But it cannot be denied that methane is also on the rise. NOAA recorded levels of 8.5 ppb in 2018 and 10.7 ppb in 2019. These new numbers show that although we have many tools to address our greenhouse gas dependency, we are actually slow to act on solutions and are seeing an alarming upward trend as a result.
Spinrad said, “We need to build a Climate-Ready Nation to adapt to what’s already here and prepare for what’s to come.” We can’t afford it anymore.”
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