COP 28

The annual Conference of the Parties (COP) is a pivotal international event where country leaders convene to address global climate change challenges. During COP, participating nations negotiate and collaborate on strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to the impacts of climate change, and advance sustainable practices. The meetings aim to strengthen international cooperation, foster commitments to environmental protection, and develop agreements that contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future for the planet.

This is an important event that sets the standard for the year in attempt to best battle climate change. Last year, at COP 27, the country’s delegates decided the primary goal to create a “loss and damage” fund that would assist developing countries and middle-income countries that are vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

This year, COP 28 is taking a big swing at cutting methane, which as we know is a potent greenhouse gas produced by oil and gas drilling, livestock and rotting vegetation. Although most greenhouse gases have similar effects, there are some specific impacts of methane emissions that severely impact Climate Change. Methane emissions, with their short atmospheric lifetime and high Global Warming Potential (GWP), significantly contribute to global warming. Beyond its immediate warming impact, methane plays a role in the formation of ground-level ozone, contributing to air pollution and exacerbating respiratory issues. Additionally, its involvement in positive feedback loops, such as the release of methane hydrates in permafrost regions, amplifies its warming effects.

Efforts to prevent methane emissions are critical in making steps towards saving the Earth. Each country that attended COP 28 has specific rules that need to be followed to make these steps. For the United States,
the Biden administration announced a conclusive methane rule for U.S. oil and gas producers, mandating measures to address methane leaks, discontinue the burning of excess gas with flares, and enforce regular facility inspections to prevent the escape of this planet-warming compound into the atmosphere.

With these progressive steps towards climate change, it is possible that climate change can be minimized as much as possible.