Global Initiative Seeks to Curb Methane Pollution

Shannon DeWitt

In 2004 an international partnership began named The Global Methane Initiative that serves to “fund projects that capture methane while stimulating economic growth.” The United States, Mexico, and 36 other countries work together to reduce methane emissions into the Earth’s atmosphere. The U.S. government pledged $53 million over five years, which has contributed to more than 170 projects worldwide from the organization. These projects have reduced emissions by nearly 30 million tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent annually, equal to removing about 20 million cars off the road for one year. Efforts have been focused on coal, agriculture, landfills, and natural gas and oil systems, which account for around 60 percent of global methane emissions. One project in the Tu Duong village in Vietnam collects pig waste from more than 100 backyards where animals are kept, and uses biodigesters to break down the waste and turn it into biogas, which when burned as fuel releases 20 times less greenhouse gases than naturally decomposed manure.

The Global Methane Initiative is one organization that exemplifies a social movement. The problem of methane pollution was recognized by several countries around the world and they then joined together and recruited others to fight this problem together. It serves as a wonderful example for the differences that can be made when people join together in a social movement to fight a problem that is affecting so many around the world. The reduction in greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere as a result of this organization’s projects should be encouragement to us all that changes can be made. These projects are just the beginning, however, in our global fight against pollution. More and more people are becoming educated on the ill-effects of pollution on our planet and atmosphere. Hopefully more social movements will arise in the near future to aid in this battle against pollution for our own sake and the future of generations to come.

http://www.iewy.com/10369-global-initiative-seeks-to-curb-methane-pollution.html