According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the period between 2015 and 2025 constituted the 11 warmest years ever recorded since measurements began in 1850, highlighting the continuous trajectory of global warming. Methane (CH4) is considered one of the most potent greenhouse gases (GHGs), a major contributor to global warming.

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Despite its presence in the atmosphere being much lower compared to carbon dioxide (CO2), methane has a much greater heat-trapping capacity than CO2, being 80 times greater in the first two decades after its emission into the atmosphere, and about 30 times greater after 100 years.

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Methane is emitted by a variety of natural sources (swamps, volcanoes, oceans, etc.) and by anthropogenic sources, which are those generated by human activities in various sectors of the economy.

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Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from various sectors of the economy continue to increase rapidly, causing warming of the atmosphere and oceans. This has also increased natural emissions due to the melting of polar ice caps, making it urgent to combat methane emissions to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

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In the last 20 years, methane concentrations in the atmosphere have increased by about 25%, accelerating global warming. There is a serious risk of reaching a point of no return, after which climate change will cease to be gradual and become abrupt, generating irreversible consequences in all aspects and incalculable losses.

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Preventing points of no return requires planning and investment in the adoption of early mitigation measures to minimize the peak of global temperature. For this reason, the Paris Agreement was signed, an international treaty that established measures to be adopted by more than 196 signatory countries, with the objective of limiting global warming to less than 2°C (ideally 1.5°C = point of no return) compared to pre-industrial levels.

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It has been proven that it is possible to curb this phenomenon, and even reverse it, through the implementation of solutions that promote decarbonization, that is, reduce GHG emissions generated in various sectors of the economy.

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Why is it important to prioritize methane in the fight against climate change?

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The "positive side" of methane emissions is that they have a short lifespan in the atmosphere, persisting for 12 years before degrading, unlike CO2 emissions, which last for centuries. The combination of short lifespan and extreme potency has made methane the main focus of efforts to combat climate change in the short term.

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Natural emissions account for 40% of total methane emissions, making it virtually impossible to control methane emissions from natural sources such as those occurring during volcanic eruptions, the decomposition of organic matter in humid regions (e.g., swamps and tropical forests), or during the thawing of the tundra (Arctic biome).

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Therefore, efforts and investments have been made globally to control methane emissions in the sectors of the economy where they are generated in the greatest quantities, such as agriculture, the oil and gas industry, and urban waste management, to mitigate the effects of climate change.

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The goal is to reduce methane emissions on a large scale as efficiently and quickly as possible, using sustainable and viable technologies, streamlining industrial processes and management systems.

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The urban waste sector is responsible for 10% of methane emissions generated by economic activities (anthropogenic sources). These emissions occur when urban waste is deposited in dumps or landfills without any treatment, and the organic fraction decomposes, generating methane gas and leachate, a highly toxic liquid effluent.