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 International Activities
EPA is involved in a variety of international activities to better understand
and quantify global methane emissions, assess the costs and benefits
of emission reduction options, and to facilitate cost-effective, emission
reduction opportunities. In addition, EPA is leading the
United States commitment to the new Methane to Markets Partnership.
Below is additional information on EPA’s international activities
in these key areas.
Methane to Markets Partnership
The Methane to Markets Partnership is a new
international initiative
that will reduce global methane emissions to enhance economic growth, promote
energy security, and improve the environment. The initiative focuses on cost-effective,
near-term methane recovery and recovery of methane for use as a clean
energy source.
Central to
this effort is the establishment of partnerships among developed countries,
developing countries, and countries with economies in transition – along
with strong participation from the private sector.
The Methane to Markets Partnership
targets three major methane emission sources: landfills, underground coal mines,
and natural gas and oil systems. Cooperative research into methane science issues
and cost-effective activities to reduce agricultural emissions over the longer-term
will also be undertaken. Other specific benefits include improving mine safety,
reducing waste, and improving local air quality.
The United States plans to host the first meeting of the Partnership
at a Ministerial November 15-17, 2004 in Washington, DC. Representatives
from countries considering joining the Partnership will be invited. In
addition, active involvement by private sector entities, financial institutions,
and other non-governmental organizations is considered essential to build
capacity, transfer technology, and promote private investment that will
ensure the Partnership’s success.
The following materials and links provide additional background on methane, climate change,
and the Methane to Markets Partnership.
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Methane to Markets
Fact Sheet (PDF,
2 pp., 30 KB) – This fact sheet provides basic
background information on the objectives, activities, and expected
benefits
of the Partnership.
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Methane Fact Sheet (PDF,
2 pp., 72 KB) – This fact sheet provides information
on methane and its role in climate change, discusses some of the
currently available emission reduction opportunities, and provides
a brief summary of US efforts to voluntarily reduce emissions.
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Question and Answers – (PDF,
4 pp., 42 KB | HTML) This
document answers important questions about methane, its role in climate
change, and the Methane to Markets Partnership.
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Views on Methane – (PDF,
2 pp., 31 KB) This document highlights some of the key scientific,
economic and political perspectives on the importance of reducing methane
emissions.
Global Climate
Change – For additional information on global climate
change and other international activities please visit EPA’s Global
Warming Web Site.
Other Methane Reduction Activities
Since 1993, EPA has been working collaboratively with industry through
a series of voluntary programs to reduce US methane emissions. Building
from these programs, EPA has also implemented activities to reduce
emissions in key countries around the world. These efforts have resulted
in the successful project development at landfills and underground coal
mines and established a solid foundation for the Methane to Markets Partnership.
For more information on these international activities, please visit
the Coalbed Methane Outreach Program and Landfill
Methane Outreach Program sites.
International Analyses
Methane plays an important role in efforts to address global climate change
due to its high global warming potential and the availability of cost-effective
emission reduction opportunities. As a result, EPA collects and develops
data on historical and projected international emissions of methane and
other non-CO2 greenhouse gases and assesses the costs of
reducing these emissions. For more information please visit our International
Analyses page.
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