How do we reach Paris Agreement Targets with different perspectives?

There is a focus on reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in most of the climate change mitigation strategies. However, there are climate warmers that are even more powerful than CO2 such as other anthropogenic drivers and non-CO2 greenhouse gases. Eight voices have contributed to the following question: ‘‘What are the important actions to reduce non-CO2 warming forcers to help the world reach Paris Agreement targets?’’

The question to the respondents

The article answers the question, “What are the important actions to reduce non-CO2 warming forcers to help the world reach Paris Agreement targets?’’. There were eight respondents to the question.

Respondent 1 - Catherine Dieleman from University of Guelph 

Answer: “Conserving permafrost-protective ecosystems for climate mitigation”

Respondent 2: Durwood Zaelke and Amelia Murphy 

Answer: “A global methane agreement can prevent climate chaos”

Respondent 3: Kushal Tibrewal

Answer” Prioritize actions targeting warmer forcers 

Respondent 4: Felix Llovel

Answer: “ Mitigation strategies to reduce F-gas emissions”

Respondent 5: Arvind Ravikumar

Answer: “Measurement are key to cut oil and gas methane emissions”

Respondent 6: Simon Svane

Answer: “Reduction of methane emissions from animal manure”

Respondent 7: Arti Bhatia

Answer: “Reducing greenhouse gas intensity of paddy cultivation”

Respondent 1: Catherine Dieleman 

The first voice is Catherine Dieleman from University of Guelph, and she believes the mitigation actions to reduce non-CO2 warming forcers is to conserve permafrost ecosystems for climate mitigation.

Catherine Dieleman states, “As climate conditions continue to warm, ecological systems that protect permafrost will become increasingly important to limit enhanced thermo-karst formation. As part of a cohesive climate change mitigation strategy, a paradigm shift is needed in how we value and manage northern ecosystems moving forward. Increased recognition of the long-term climate mitigation benefits from conservation and restoration of many northern ecosystems, including systems that protect perma-frost, is an important first step to limiting natural sources of non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions in the coming century”. 

The second voices is Durwood Zaelke and Amelia Murphy and they both believe the mitigation actions to reduce non-CO2 warming forcers is to have a  global methane agreement can prevent climate chaos.The first statement mentioned that COP27 is not doing its bit or importance in climate change as the conversation is happening outside of COP27. An example of this is the Global Methane Pledge which 150 countries are committed to “aiming to reduce global methane emissions 30% below 2020 levels by 2030”. Further, “Because cutting methane emissions is the only known way to slow self-reinforcing feedback loops and avoid irreversible tipping points lurking beyond 1.5C, the effort belongs at head-of-state level. At upcoming G7 and G20 meetings, countries representing 75% of global emissions and 80% of global GDP can get a head start to keep the 1.5C target alive by committing to a Global Methane Agreement.”

Respondent 3: Kushal Tibrewal

The third voice is Kushal Tibrewal and he believes that the mitigation actions to reduce non-CO2 warming forcers is to “Prioritize actions targeting warmer forcers”

Kaushal Tibrewal provides a solution being black carbon, “Black carbon mitigation actions must precede, or at least be implemented in conjunction with, CO2-targeted climate actions in formal sectors to avoid counter-productively increasing warming by reducing the emissions of cooling forcers. One challenge is these mitigation efforts mostly fall under the governance umbrella of air-quality, which is more of a regional issue than a global one and thus lacks stringent international monitoring. It is imperative that climate policy makers identify activities”.

Respondent 4: Felix Llovel

The fourth voice is Felix Llovell and he believes in “Mitigation strategies to reduce F-gas emissions”. Felix mentions, “Among them, fluorinated gases (F-gases), such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are common substances used in home and industry refrigeration, with a global warming potential (GWP) that may be several orders of magnitude higher than that of CO2, with an expected contribution of around 0.25–0.4C increase of the Earth global temperature by 2050. Further, Felix mentions The unique value of these techniques will not only avoid the massive production of new HFCs but also maintain the refrigeration needs. The combination of these technologies, along with the design of a new generation of sustainable refrigerants, seem to be the most realistic path that contributes to stopping the devastating consequences of global warming caused by non-CO2 F-gas emissions.”

Respondent 5: Arvind Ravikumar

The fifth voice is Arvind Ravikumar and he believes in “Measurements are key to cut oil and gas methane emissions”. Arvind states, “The oil and gas sector is responsible for 25% of global methane emissions and represents a key opportunity for near-term climate action. Global interest in methane mitigation has led to a rise in voluntary initiatives on low-leakage or responsible gas certifications for companies that demonstrate emissions reductions”. A solution stated, “Voluntary initiatives can result in a beneficial race-to-the-bottom on methane, helping achieve the Global Methane Pledge mitigation targets, but it will only work in a world guided by the best available science and sector-wide transparency.”

Respondent 6: Simon Svane

The sixth voice is Simon Svane and he believes in “Reduction of methane emissions from animal manure”. Simon states, “When developing new solutions, it is important to ensure that existing as well as new technologies within manure treatment are effectively adopted by the farmers. Technologies need to be cheap and easily implemented in already existing animal productions with clear advantages to the individual farmer. Utilizing manure for biogas production is an example of a technology that adds value to the manure as farmers are paid for the produced biogas and that is easily implemented in existing productions. However, a substantial investment is required to build the needed biogas plants, and solutions are needed to address methane emissions prior to biogas production. Inhibiting methane formation in manure already at the livestock-housing level using cheap, safe, and biogas-compatible plant waste materials from other industries could be a possible way forward.

Respondent 7: Arti Bhatia

The seventh voice is Arti Bhatia and she believes in “Reducing greenhouse gas intensity of paddy cultivation”. Arti states, “A leaf color chart, a cost-effective tool for nitrogen fertilizer application in rice cultivation can further help to mitigate N2O and also reduce ammonia volatilization. Application of natural nitrification inhibitors such as neem oil coated over urea fertilizer can also lessen both N2O and CH4 emissions. A strategic deployment of these approaches will reduce greenhouse gas intensity of paddy cultivation, further helping to achieve the targets of net-zero emissions and alleviate the global warming potential.

There was one question and each respondent gave a different answer and perspective to the answer. Each respondent also provided a way forward or a solution to the question “What are the important actions to reduce non-CO2 warming forcers to help the world reach Paris Agreement targets?’. All respondents views can make a difference in the long run, in reaching the Paris Agreement Targets.