UK Government Falls Short on Methane Action

The UK government has yet to demonstrate how it will cut methane emissions to meet the 30% reduction target by 2030 outlined in the COP26 Global Methane Pledge, according to a new report by Green Alliance. The independent think tank has proposed a number of low-cost policies that could reduce the country’s methane emissions by as much as 43%. For example, the UK could reduce methane emissions by 19% by 2030 by moving the UK’s ban on landfilling biodegradable waste forward to 2025 and mandating landfill operators to increase biogas capture, it said. A further 9% of methane savings could be achieved by regulating the gas industry to eliminate any methane leaks produced by their operations. The report has additionally urged the government to adopt measures to cut methane in the agriculture and land use sector, which represents over half of the total methane produced in the UK. Dustin Benton, Green Alliance’s Policy Director, said: “Our work is the first to show how the UK can exceed its global methane pledge by 2030, using low cost policies that not only reduce methane emissions, but also create new industries in alternative proteins, and improve our energy security in the face of the gas crisis.” 

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