Briefing Paper on China’s Efforts to Reduce Methane Emissions

China has adopted measures aimed at reducing its methane emissions in the past few years. Methane is over 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in contributing to global warming over a 20-year time span and about 28 times more powerful over a 100-year time span. Cutting methane emissions is the fastest way to slow warming in the near term and keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C within reach, thereby preventing the worst adverse impacts from affecting the most vulnerable populations.

APCEL and the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD) have jointly published a briefing paper on China’s efforts to reduce methane emissions. This paper provides an overview of China’s existing national targets and regulatory requirements that are relevant to methane. It also identifies policy opportunities to strengthen China’s efforts on methane emissions control in the near term and for achieving the country’s longer-term 2060 carbon neutrality goal.

Read the policy paper here.