LAHORE:
Pakistan has officially joined more than 80 nations who signed up for the US-led global methane pledge at the COP26 UN Climate Change Summit this year. They agreed to cut methane emissions by 30% by the end of this decade in an effort to tackle climate change. This was necessary if we wish to reach the Paris Agreement’s goal of preventing a temperature rise of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
As socially responsible individuals, we should be aware of our methane footprint and make an effort to reduce it. Methane is a major greenhouse gas which is even more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. According to an estimate, nearly 60% of all methane emissions in the world come from human activities such as agriculture and livestock, oil and gas industries, landfills, and emissions from coal-mines. Methane is also produced by livestock such as cow and goats as part of their normal digestive process.
Experts suggest that reducing our dairy and meat consumption, especially red meat, can lower methane emissions. Although methane is naturally broken down by the soil, it is being produced faster than our planet can deal with it. We ought to make meal choices in a way that is healthier for us and our planet.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8th, 2021.
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