Methane Emissions Must Be Cut Hard to Keep Global Warming Well Below 2°C

Methane is the second‑largest greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, trapping heat more efficiently than CO₂. Its atmospheric life is short, fading after only a few decades, so emissions can be reduced quickly for climate benefit. The main sources of methane are agriculture and fossil‑fuel activities. A recent analysis argues that only tough, rapid cuts in methane emissions can keep global temperature rise well below the 2°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement. The study stresses that because methane’s potency is high and its lifetime is brief, immediate reductions can deliver near‑term climate gains.