Context

A new satellite-based Methane Alert and Response systemhas been launched at the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27)to help governments detect methane emissions and tackle them.

About

Methane Alert and Response System (MARS):

• MARS is a part of global efforts to slow climate change by tackling global warming gas.
• It will use state-of-the-art satellite data to identify significant emission events, notify relevant stakeholders, and support and track mitigation progress.
• MARS will integrate data from the rapidly expanding system of methane-detecting satellites to include lower-emitting area sources and more frequent detection.
• Data on coal, waste, livestock, and rice will be added gradually to MARS to support the Global Methane Pledge
  • India has not signed up for the Global Methane Pledge.
    
    

Components of the Methane Alert and Response System:

• MARS will use data from global mapping satellites to identify very large methane plumes and methane hot spots and data from high-resolution satellites to then attribute the emissions to a specific source.
• UNEP(United Nations Environment Programme) will then notify governments and companies about the emissions, either directly or through partners, so that the responsible entity can take appropriate action.
• If requested, MARS partners will provide technical or advisory services such as help in assessing mitigation opportunities.
• UNEP will continue to monitor the event location and make the data and analysis available to the public between 45 and 75 days after the detection.

Steps taken to Curb Methane Emissions:

• COP 26 Pledges: At COP26 in Glasgow, over 100 countries signed an agreement to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030.
• The US President has announced the Global Methane Pledge, which is a US-EU-led effort to cut methane emissions by a third by the end of this decade.
• MethaneSAT: Controlling methane emissions will require further scrutiny of its sources. To this end, satellites that will track methane leakage such as MethaneSAThave been planned to launch.
• The International Energy Forum (IEF) launched the IEF Methane Initiative in June 2021 to develop a methane emissions measurement methodology.

India's methane emissions and mitigation initiative

• Global Methane Initiative (GMI) website, India ranks fourth, and its methane emissions are nearly one-third that of China.
  

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