Methane has become a central topic when discussing climate change and greenhouse gases. Its ability to trap heat is more than 25 times greater than that of carbon dioxide , placing this gas at the heart of international debates, scientific research, and policy. Recent discoveries have revealed new sources of emissions and promising ways to reduce its presence in the atmosphere, offering just a few of the potential solutions to global warming.
Some regions, like the Arctic, have attracted the attention of the scientific community due to their unexpectedly important role in the methane cycle . But the fight against methane emissions encompasses everything from international agreements and technological strategies to surprising discoveries, such as the potential of trees to capture it naturally. Below, we review the findings and initiatives that are shaping the course of mitigating this potent greenhouse gas.
Arctic lakes and their role in methane release
A recent study led by Marie BulÃnová and an international team has focused on Arctic lakes and their unexpected contribution to global methane emissions . The study, conducted on ten lakes in Svalbard and subarctic Scandinavia , indicates that an increasingly warmer and wetter climate is increasing the biological productivity of these ecosystems: there is more algae, aquatic plants, and organic matter which, when decomposed in shallow sediments, leads to methane formation.
Researchers found that most of the gas originates in the first 10 centimeters of sediment , where conditions are ideal for microbial activity. Using machine learning models , the team identified temperature , rainfall , and the amount of organic matter as key factors in the generation and release of methane from lakes into the atmosphere. By comparing these results with data from more than sixty lakes in other regions, they confirmed that, although each Arctic lake emits less methane than tropical lakes, the sheer number of lakes in the North makes their role in the global climate balance significant.
Innovations to reduce methane emissions in livestock farming
The livestock sector, especially pig farming, is also experimenting with solutions to reduce methane emissions from slurry storage . A study conducted in France has tested a technique called lisothermy , which involves pipe systems to cool the slurry stored beneath farms. By reducing the temperature, the activity of methane-producing bacteria decreases , and therefore emissions are also reduced.
The results have been encouraging: under experimental conditions, methane reduction reached 59% with cooling systems installed at the bottom of the pits and 38% with surface systems. Furthermore, this method has not had negative effects on animal growth or productivity and allows for the recovery of some of the generated thermal energy. However, under real-world operating conditions, the effectiveness is reduced, mainly due to the lower power of the installed systems.
International commitments and the path to decarbonization
At the global level, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have recently strengthened their commitment to addressing methane emissions, as evidenced at the Second Regional Methane Summit held in Lima. At the meeting, leading representatives emphasized the need to coordinate regulations, financing, technological innovation, and international collaboration to tackle the problem. Particular emphasis was placed on the potential of biomethane as an alternative for advancing the decarbonization of the region's energy sector.
During the summit, mechanisms for financing mitigation actions and strategies for aligning national policies with global best practices were discussed. Aware of the impact of methane —one ton is equivalent to eighteen tons of CO₂ in the greenhouse effect—policymakers and technical experts emphasized the importance of accelerating the energy transition to renewable sources and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
The unexpected role of trees in absorbing methane
Beyond emissions reduction, scientific research has also discovered natural mechanisms capable of capturing methane directly from the atmosphere . An international group of scientists confirmed that microorganisms present in tree bark can absorb the gas on a large scale. This phenomenon was observed in tropical, temperate, and boreal forests in various parts of the world, and appears to be especially intense in warm, humid areas like the Amazon.
Until now, soil was thought to be the only significant terrestrial sink for methane, but this new evidence suggests that trees also contribute significantly. According to the authors, methane absorption by tree bark could remove between 25 and 50 million tons annually from the atmospheric cycle, which would be an additional benefit for the climate.
The major challenge is that, despite these absorption mechanisms, methane concentrations in the atmosphere have increased rapidly in recent decades, contributing to approximately one-third of global warming since the pre-industrial era. Therefore, scientists and policymakers insist on the urgent need to implement measures that will allow for the rapid and effective mitigation of methane emissions.
All of this research and action shows that the methane challenge is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach. From improving agricultural and livestock management, to harnessing natural sinks, to international cooperation and the development of new technologies, the fight against this potent gas remains a priority on the global climate agenda.