A Structured Approach for the Mitigation of Natural Methane Emissions—Lessons Learned from Anthropogenic Emissions

Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas. Natural methane emissions represent 35–50% of the global emissions budget. They are identified, measured and categorized, but, in stark contrast to anthropogenic emissions, research on their mitigation is largely absent. To explain this, 18 proble...

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Main Authors: Jonas Johannisson, Michael Hiete
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-04-01
Series:C
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5629/6/2/24
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author Jonas Johannisson
Michael Hiete
author_facet Jonas Johannisson
Michael Hiete
author_sort Jonas Johannisson
collection DOAJ
description Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas. Natural methane emissions represent 35–50% of the global emissions budget. They are identified, measured and categorized, but, in stark contrast to anthropogenic emissions, research on their mitigation is largely absent. To explain this, 18 problems are identified and presented. This includes problems related to the emission characteristics, technological and economic challenges, as well as problems resulting from a missing framework. Consequently, strategies, methods and solutions to solve or circumvent the identified problems are proposed. The framework covers definitions for methane source categorization and for categories of emission types and mitigation approaches. Business cases for methane mitigation are discussed and promising mitigation technologies briefly assessed. The importance to get started with methane mitigation in the different areas is highlighted and avenues for doing so are presented.
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spelling doaj.art-3023ccc39ee04cce97436ed7880c05402023-11-19T22:24:39ZengMDPI AGC2311-56292020-04-01622410.3390/c6020024A Structured Approach for the Mitigation of Natural Methane Emissions—Lessons Learned from Anthropogenic EmissionsJonas Johannisson0Michael Hiete1Department of Business Chemistry, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, GermanyDepartment of Business Chemistry, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, GermanyMethane is the second most important greenhouse gas. Natural methane emissions represent 35–50% of the global emissions budget. They are identified, measured and categorized, but, in stark contrast to anthropogenic emissions, research on their mitigation is largely absent. To explain this, 18 problems are identified and presented. This includes problems related to the emission characteristics, technological and economic challenges, as well as problems resulting from a missing framework. Consequently, strategies, methods and solutions to solve or circumvent the identified problems are proposed. The framework covers definitions for methane source categorization and for categories of emission types and mitigation approaches. Business cases for methane mitigation are discussed and promising mitigation technologies briefly assessed. The importance to get started with methane mitigation in the different areas is highlighted and avenues for doing so are presented.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5629/6/2/24natural methane emissionsmitigationCH<sub>4</sub>climate changegreenhouse gasframework
spellingShingle Jonas Johannisson
Michael Hiete
A Structured Approach for the Mitigation of Natural Methane Emissions—Lessons Learned from Anthropogenic Emissions
C
natural methane emissions
mitigation
CH<sub>4</sub>
climate change
greenhouse gas
framework
title A Structured Approach for the Mitigation of Natural Methane Emissions—Lessons Learned from Anthropogenic Emissions
title_full A Structured Approach for the Mitigation of Natural Methane Emissions—Lessons Learned from Anthropogenic Emissions
title_fullStr A Structured Approach for the Mitigation of Natural Methane Emissions—Lessons Learned from Anthropogenic Emissions
title_full_unstemmed A Structured Approach for the Mitigation of Natural Methane Emissions—Lessons Learned from Anthropogenic Emissions
title_short A Structured Approach for the Mitigation of Natural Methane Emissions—Lessons Learned from Anthropogenic Emissions
title_sort structured approach for the mitigation of natural methane emissions lessons learned from anthropogenic emissions
topic natural methane emissions
mitigation
CH<sub>4</sub>
climate change
greenhouse gas
framework
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-5629/6/2/24
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