United States, European Union, and Partners Formally Launch Global Methane Pledge to Keep 1.5C Within Reach

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United States, European Union, and Partners Formally Launch Global Methane Pledge to Keep 1.5C Within Reach

The following media note was published by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs on Nov. 2, 2021. It is reproduced in full below.

Over 100 countries representing 70% of the global economy have now joined the Pledge

Today, the United States, the European Union, and partners formally launched the Global Methane Pledge, an initiative to reduce global methane emissions to keep the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach. A total of over 100 countries representing 70% of the global economy and nearly half of anthropogenic methane emissions have now signed onto the pledge.

The strong global support for the Pledge illustrates growing momentum to swiftly reduce methane emissions-widely regarded as the single most effective strategy to reduce global warming. Countries joining the Global Methane Pledge commit to a collective goal of reducing global methane emissions by at least 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030 and moving towards using best available inventory methodologies to quantify methane emissions, with a particular focus on high emission sources. The countries who have joined the Pledge represent all regions of the world and include representatives from developed and developing nations.

The U.S. and EU are also proud to announce a significant expansion of financial and technical support to assist implementation of the Pledge. Global philanthropies have committed $328 million in funding to support scale up of these types of methane mitigation strategies worldwide. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, and the Green Climate Fund have committed to support the Pledge through both technical assistance and project finance. The International Energy Agency will also serve as an implementation partner.

Delivering on the Global Methane Pledge would reduce warming by at least 0.2 degrees Celsius by 2050, providing a crucial foundation for global climate change mitigation efforts. In addition, according to the Global Methane Assessment from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), achieving the 2030 goal would prevent over 200,000 premature deaths, hundreds of thousands of asthma-related emergency room visits, and over 20 million tons of crop losses a year by 2030.

The supporters of the Global Methane Pledge include the U.S., the EU, and the following 103 countries:

1. Albania

2. Andorra

3. Argentina

4. Armenia

5. Barbados

6. Belgium

7. Belize

8. Benin

9. Bosnia and Herzegovina

10. Brazil

11. Bulgaria

12. Burkina Faso

13. Canada

14. Central African Republic

15. Chile

16. Colombia

17. Republic of the Congo

18. Cameroon

19. Costa Rica

20. Cote D’Ivoire

21. Croatia

22. Cyprus

23. Democratic Republic of the Congo

24. Denmark

25. Djibouti

26. Dominican Republic

27. Ecuador

28. El Salvador

29. Estonia

30. Ethiopia

31. Federated States of Micronesia

32. Fiji

33. Finland

34. France

35. Gabon

36. Gambia

37. Georgia

38. Germany

39. Ghana

40. Greece

41. Grenada

42. Guatemala

43. Guyana

44. Honduras

45. Iceland

46. Indonesia

47. Iraq

48. Ireland

49. Israel

50. Italy

51. Jamaica

52. Japan

53. Jordan

54. Korea

55. Kyrgyzstan

56. Kuwait

57. Liberia

58. Libya

59. Luxembourg

60. Malawi

61. Mali

62. Malta

63. Marshall Islands

64. Mexico

65. Monaco

66. Montenegro

67. Morocco

68. Nauru

69. Netherlands

70. Nepal

71. New Zealand

72. Nigeria

73. Niue

74. North Macedonia

75. Norway

76. Pakistan

77. Palau

78. Panama

79. Papua New Guinea

80. Peru

81. Philippines

82. Portugal

83. Rwanda

84. Saudi Arabia

85. Senegal

86. Serbia

87. Singapore

88. Slovenia

89. Spain

90. St. Kitts & Nevis

91. Suriname

92. Sweden

93. Switzerland

94. Togo

95. Tonga

96. Tunisia

97. Ukraine

98. United Arab Emirates

99. United Kingdom

100. Uruguay

101. Vanuatu

102. Vietnam

103. Zambia

Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

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