- Tropical wetlands release record methane levels, threatening global climate goals and demanding stricter emissions cuts.
- Key regions like the Congo Basin, Amazon, and Southeast Asia drive the surge, with emissions far exceeding worst-case climate projections.
- Despite global pledges, methane emissions remain high, and scientists warn that more decisive actions are needed to keep warming below 1.5°C.
New research shows tropical wetlands releasing more methane than ever, pushing climate goals further out of reach. This surge in emissions, overlooked mainly in national climate plans, forces governments to consider stricter cuts in fossil fuel and agricultural sectors.
Wetlands store vast amounts of carbon in decaying plant matter, and as soil microbes break it down, they release methane. Rising temperatures accelerate this process, while heavy rains expand wetlands, boosting methane output. Between 2020 and 2022, methane levels reached their highest since records began in the 1980s.
Studies point to tropical wetlands as the primary contributor, with these regions adding over 7 million tonnes of methane in recent years. “Methane concentrations have risen faster in the last five years than ever before,” said Stanford scientist Rob Jackson.
Satellite data identified key regions responsible, including the Congo Basin, Southeast Asia, the Amazon, and southern Brazil. A *Nature Climate Change* study found that wetland methane emissions over the past two decades exceeded worst-case climate projections.
Duke University’s Drew Shindell highlighted the challenge of capturing methane from wetlands with current technologies. He warned that without solutions, climate policies will face even greater pressure. The La Niña weather pattern, which increases rainfall in tropical regions, likely contributed to the spike. However, Shindell noted that La Niña alone cannot account for the record-breaking emissions.
Rising methane emissions from wetlands complicate global efforts to keep warming below 1.5°C, as set by the Paris Climate Agreement. If emissions continue to climb, governments must adopt more aggressive measures.
Methane, 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over 20 years, accounts for about one-third of the 1.3°C rise in global temperatures since 1850. Unlike CO2, methane breaks down after a decade, making it a more immediate threat.
Despite over 150 nations pledging to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030, progress remains slow. Fossil fuel-related methane emissions have stayed near record highs since 2019, around 120 million tonnes annually. A UN report revealed that out of 1,000 methane leaks detected by satellites, only 12 were addressed.
China and the U.S. have made efforts to curb methane emissions. China committed to reducing flaring at oil and gas wells, while President Biden’s administration introduced a methane fee for significant oil and gas producers. However, political shifts could threaten these policies.
At COP29, Congo’s environment minister, Eve Bazaiba, acknowledged her country as a significant source of methane emissions. “We don’t know how much methane is coming from our wetlands,” Bazaiba said, calling for more investment in monitoring and assessment.
As methane emissions from tropical wetlands rise, global efforts to limit climate change face increasing challenges. Governments will need to act more decisively to counter this emerging threat.