Technical

In complement to anthropogenic methane emissions reductions, atmospheric methane removal has been proposed in order to: address methane sources difficult to prevent or avoid, deal with legacy emissions, remove increasing emissions from wetlands and water bodies induced by anthropogenic global warming, and prepare in case of a methane burst (rapidly thawing permafrost and catastrophic releases from submarine methane hydrates). Read more in the embedded document below. [Updated January 12, 2023] Download Document ...
Read More

Abstract Mitigating climate change requires a diverse portfolio of technologies and approaches, including negative emissions or removal of greenhouse gases. Previous literature focuses primarily on carbon dioxide removal, but methane removal may be an important complement to future efforts. Methane removal has at least two key benefits: reducing temperature more rapidly than carbon dioxide removal and improving air quality by reducing surface ozone concentration. While some removal technologies are being developed, modelling of their impacts is limited. Here, we conduct the first simulations using a methane emissions-driven Earth System Model to quantify the climate and air quality co-benefits of methane ...
Read More

Abstract Atmospheric methane removal (e.g. in situ methane oxidation to carbon dioxide) may be needed to offset continued methane release and limit the global warming contribution of this potent greenhouse gas. Because mitigating most anthropogenic emissions of methane is uncertain this century, and sudden methane releases from the Arctic or elsewhere cannot be excluded, technologies for methane removal or oxidation may be required. Carbon dioxide removal has an increasingly well-established research agenda and technological foundation. No similar framework exists for methane removal. We believe that a research agenda for negative methane emissions—‘removal' or atmospheric methane oxidation—is needed. We outline some ...
Read More

Abstract Fulfilling the Paris Climate Agreement requires reducing rapidly the new emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to reach net zero by 2050. As some anthropogenic emissions cannot be zero, to compensate them it will be necessary to remove GHGs from the atmosphere. Among possible methods, the Iron Salt Aerosol (ISA) offers new possibilities, including removal of methane and several other GHGs, as well as carbon dioxide. Several studies suggest that anthropogenic emissions of iron participate in the current primary productivity. As plans to decarbonize the world economy might also have inadvertent warming effects due to the reduction of iron emissions ...
Read More