SYDNEY, April 16 — A new analysis suggests that Australia’s coal mines may have significantly underestimated their methane emissions, raising concerns about the country’s climate reporting accuracy.
Energy think tank Ember used satellite data to measure methane released from several coal mines across Australia. The study found that in 2020, methane emissions from these mines were about 40% higher than the figures reported by the Australian government.
“Satellite estimates, including the one generated for this report, all point to the same finding — there is a significant gap between reported emissions and satellite-based estimates,” said Sarah Shannon, an analyst at Ember.
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. It forms underground in coal seams and escapes into the atmosphere when coal is mined. According to the International Energy Agency, coal mines are one of the world’s largest sources of methane emissions.
Scientists have long warned of gaps between reported greenhouse gas figures and the actual emissions. The new findings from Ember confirm these concerns.
“Methane has a high global warming potential. Improving how we report it is essential to finding better ways to reduce it,” Shannon added.
Australia has recently been working to improve the way it calculates methane emissions. However, Ember’s research shows that doubts remain about the accuracy of official data.
“Australia’s coal mine methane emissions remain under a cloud of international scrutiny,” said Christopher Wright, a climate adviser at Ember. “If reporting doesn’t improve, not only is our own emissions accounting flawed, but international buyers won’t have a clear view of the emissions in their supply chains.”
NASA data shows that methane levels in the atmosphere have doubled in the past 200 years. Although there is less methane in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, it traps heat much more efficiently—about 80 times more over a 20-year period.
The report underscores the urgent need for better monitoring and reporting systems to tackle methane emissions more effectively.
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