Innovative Satellites Role in reducing methane emissions

Countries around the world are increasingly aware of the importance of reduce methane emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes at least a quarter of today's climate warming.

In this sense, the International Methane Emissions Observatory was launched by UNEP, an observatory designed to help Governments reduce emissions.

Satellite technology has become an important tool in detecting and measuring methane emissions. Can the technology succeed with and respond to methane emissions alerts?

At a meeting of UNEP with Manfredi Caltagirone, head of the International Methane Emissions Observatory, discussed UNEP's latest initiative, which is the methane alert and response system, and how it brings a new level of accuracy and transparency to reducing methane emissions.

Manfredi Caltagirone said, we use a number of satellites currently in orbit for different purposes because each of them gives us a different set of data currently, we rely on the Sentinel 5P satellite, a mapping satellite launched by European Space Agency (ESA) a few years ago.

The satellite covers the Earth daily, and based on this daily data, maps are developed every three weeks that accurately identify the highest concentrations, or hot spots, of methane emissions, as well as detect very large plumes of methane from individual sources with the same data.

He explained, by primary data, they direct a different class of satellites - Called dot source photographers - to targets, these satellites have high spatial resolution, It has the ability to enlarge the source of methane emission, with more satellites and devices at our disposal, Our ability to use these technologies increases and improves significantly, and it is necessary to understand that the methane alert system approach and response has been scientifically validated, All the data collected will be based on science.

The methane alert and response system is the first publicly available global system capable of linking methane detection to media operations transparently, coordinating remote satellite observations, including those run by European, Italian, German and NASA space agencies, with a view to identifying large sources of methane emissions around the world.

Notably, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has urged cutting methane emissions at least 30 per cent by 2030 to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement. Lowering global oil and gas methane emissions by 45 per cent would achieve as much climate benefit in the next 20 years.