The Biden-Harris administration has unveiled a comprehensive set of measures to detect and reduce climate super pollutants, addressing a crucial aspect of climate change mitigation.
Super pollutants, including methane, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and nitrous oxide (N2O), contribute to half of today’s climate change and are significantly more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2). Reducing emissions of these super pollutants is the quickest way to combat climate change, while simultaneously creating good-paying clean energy jobs, preventing respiratory illnesses, and boosting food security.
Since taking office, President Biden has prioritized the reduction of super pollutant emissions. Domestically, the administration has implemented the U.S. Methane Action Plan, a comprehensive approach to cut costs, protect communities, and create high-quality jobs while promoting innovation in essential new technologies.
Internationally, President Biden has spearheaded initiatives like the Global Methane Pledge, aiming to cut global methane emissions by 30% by 2030, and has ratified the Kigali Amendment to phase down HFCs, potentially avoiding up to 0.5°C of global warming by 2100.
These efforts are projected to reduce U.S. super pollutant emissions by nearly 300 megatons annually by 2030, equivalent to removing 70 million gasoline-powered cars from the road.
Despite opposition from many Republicans in Congress, who deny climate change and aim to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden-Harris administration remains committed to its climate agenda. The administration’s largest climate investment in history aims to preserve good-paying jobs and ensure the health and safety of all Americans.
Today’s White House Super Pollutants Summit brought together U.S. officials, companies, environmental organizations, unions, philanthropies, and international partners to celebrate achievements and announce new initiatives.
Key highlights include advancements in detection and reporting. NOAA and United Airlines will enhance monitoring of climate pollutants via commercial aircraft, improving greenhouse gas emissions understanding.
The State Department and NASA will deploy monitoring systems to U.S. embassies, aiding in satellite data and forecasting models. The Carbon Mapper Coalition, including NASA and Planet Labs, will launch a satellite to detect methane super-emitters, supported by a $10 million funding from the Bezos Earth Fund.
In terms of industry leadership to reduce nitrous oxide emissions, Ascend Performance Materials and ClimeCo announced projects to significantly reduce N2O emissions, with ClimeCo’s projects expected to cut emissions by 95% at three facilities by early 2025.
For domestic methane emissions reduction initiatives, EPA’s Clean Air Act rules will reduce methane emissions from oil and natural gas operations by nearly 80%. The Super Emitter Program will use remote sensing technologies to detect and address large methane leaks. Additionally, EPA will update its emission standards for municipal solid waste landfills by 2025 to incorporate new technologies and reduce harmful emissions.
On a global scale, USAID’s partnerships aim to address food loss and waste, creating jobs and preventing significant methane emissions in Kenya, Nepal, and Tanzania. The High Tide Foundation announced over $300 million in funding for the Global Methane Hub to support methane reduction projects, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) expanded participation in its Methane Alert and Response System (MARS), covering over two-thirds of oil and gas emissions events detected in 2023.
These new actions build on more than three years of efforts by the Biden-Harris administration, which include nearly 100 actions to reduce methane emissions, significant investments in climate pollution reduction grants, and international leadership at forums like COP26 and COP28.
