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Opportunities to Make a Difference

Option 1 - Take Action to Reduce Methane Emissions

There are many steps each of us can take to help cut emissions

  • Electrify your home - replace gas appliances with electric ones
  • Eat less red meat - cattle, sheep and other ruminants are a major source of methane
  • Reduce your food waste - in the U.S. 40% of food gets wasted and all food waste releases methane

Option 2 - Support Pro-Climate Candidates in Mid-term elections

Donate time or money to candidates in close Senate races who will take action on climate change

Three great options - Raphael Warnock of Georgia, Catherine Cortez Masto of NV and John Fetterman of PA

Endorsements - League of Conservation Voters (lcv.org)

Show Notes

Reason for Hope

Nations have agreed to phase out emissions from flying by 2050

Although the agreement is not binding, it represents a significant achievement in efforts to decarbonize the sector

Aviation currently represents 3% of global emissions but commercial flights are forecast to triple by 2050

The International Council on Clean Transportation forecasts emissions could be cut 85% alone through the use of demand management, advances in efficiency and biofuels

Sources

Nations Agree to Curb Emissions From Flying by 2050 - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Aviation - International Council on Clean Transportation (theicct.org)

Main Topic

Renewable natural gas

Captures methane (biogas) from agricultural and waste sources that would otherwise be emitted into atmosphere

Offsets need for fossil gas

New methane detection satellite set to be launched yet this year

Partnership between U.S. based Environmental Defense Fund and New Zealand

Global methane emissions 2019 data

~40% agriculture

~37% oil and gas industry (although likely much larger based on recent findings)

~18% waste

~5% other

Sources

RNG Q&A: Facts About Renewable Natural Gas — The Coalition For Renewable Natural Gas (rngcoalition.com)

New Zealand base for methane-measuring satellite mission | Reuters

Emissions by sector - Our World in Data

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