Ministers from 46 countries discussed stepping up ambition and action to address climate and clean air issues, with a particular focus on methane, on the sidelines of COP 26 in Glasgow, UK. The Climate and Clean Air Ministerial convened on 9 November 2021.
The Ministerial, which is the highest-level political body of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC), endorsed the CCAC 2030 Strategy. The Strategy envisions scaled-up efforts to significantly reduce short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) by 2030, namely methane, hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs), black carbon, and tropospheric (ground level) ozone. The CCAC aims to act on SLCPs in order to slow near-term temperature change and deliver public health, food security, environmental, and economic benefits.
During the event, Ministers expressed broad support for implementation of the Global Methane Pledge launched during COP 26 by the US and EU. The CCAC will support the Pledge’s implementation and assist all participants achieve its goal to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030.
The current Co-Chairs of the CCAC are Ghana and the US. During the event, John Kerry, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, said the Global Methane Pledge will not only reduce emissions but also save lives. Kwaku Afriyie, Ghana’s Minister of the Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, called for financial, technological, and capacity-building support for implementation of the Strategy.
Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), highlighted the newly launched CCAC Methane Flagship Programme, which will provide capacity support to reduce methane in the fossil fuels, waste, and agriculture sectors. Starting in 2022, the programme will foster and strengthen high-level commitments to reduce methane, amplify and raise awareness, support planning and delivery of strategies and plans, provide analysis and tools to support action, and scale up financing. Frans Timmermans, Vice President, European Commission, announced the EU agreed to address methane in the oil and gas and coal sectors, with plans to also include the agriculture sector.
During the ministerial, participants also addressed specific actions on how to reduce methane emissions in the agriculture, fossil fuels, and waste sectors. The CCAC launched new work in each of these sectors and Ministers outlined actions they are taking in each. They also discussed efforts to reduce HFCs in the cooling sector.
Ministers recognized that further reducing emissions of these SLCPs is necessary to limit warming to 1.5⁰C and will complement efforts to scale-up actions on CO2. Reducing these pollutants will also prevent millions of premature deaths from air pollution and help advance the SDGs.
The US, Switzerland, Canada, Norway, Monaco, the Flemish region of Belgium, Monaco, Ireland, and Sweden all made pledges to the CCAC Trust Fund. In addition, philanthropies have raised USD 328 million to ramp up ambition on methane and support countries implement the Global Methane Pledge. [ENB coverage of Ministerial] [CCAC website] [Ministerial event website] [UNEP press release] [CCAC press release]