Atmospheric methane removal: a research agenda

• Main Authors: Jackson, Robert B, Abernethy, Sam, Canadell, Josep G, Cargnello, Matteo, Davis, Steven J, Fron, Sarah, Fuss, Sabine, Heyer, Alexander J, Hong, Chaopeng, Jones, Chris D, Matthews, H Damon, O'Connor, Fiona M, Pisciotta, Maxwell, Rhoda, Hannah M, de Richter, Renaud, Solomon, Edward I, Wilcox, Jennifer L, Zickfeld, Kirsten
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: eScholarship, University of California 2021
• Subjects: Climate Action; methane oxidation; negative emissions; Methane Removal Model Intercomparison Project; iron salt aerosols; solar photocatalysts; zeolites; General Science & Technology; Arctic; Global warming
• Online Access: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/63x7m3p8

Atmospheric methane removal (e.g. in situ methane oxidation to carbon dioxide) may be needed to offset continued methane release and limit the global warming contribution of this potent greenhouse gas. Because mitigating most anthropogenic emissions of methane is uncertain this century, and sudden methane releases from the Arctic or elsewhere cannot be excluded, technologies for methane removal or oxidation may be required. Carbon dioxide removal has an increasingly well-established research agenda and technological foundation. No similar framework exists for methane removal. We believe that a research agenda for negative methane emissions-'removal' or atmospheric methane oxidation-is needed. We outline some considerations for such an agenda here, including a proposed Methane Removal Model Intercomparison Project (MR-MIP). This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Rising methane: is warming feeding warming? (part 1)'.