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Understanding and Reducing Anthropogenic Emissions of Methane

American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, August 13-17, 2023

Industrial & Engineering Chemistry (I&EC)

Understanding and Reducing Anthropogenic Emissions of Methane: Harnessing the Power of Data

Methane is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, but it has a far shorter residence time in the atmosphere. Unfortunately, the atmospheric concentration of methane is increasing faster than at any time since record keeping began in the 1980s. Because of its high potency and relatively short atmospheric lifetime, reductions in emissions of methane in the near-term are particularly important to slowing the rate of global warming and meeting short-term climate goals: if methane reduction pledges are met, future global warming could be reduced by 0.3 degree C. Existing technologies could be employed to reduce methane emissions by more than 50%. The International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) is a data-driven, action-focused initiative by the UN Environment Programme, with support from the European Commission, to catalyse dramatic reduction of methane emissions, starting with the energy sector. IMEO contains a wealth of publicly available data on methane emissions taken from aircraft and drones, satellites, and ground-level equipment. This symposium focuses on currently available data on methane emissions, measurement technology, climate modeling, and how this information can be used to promote effective reduction efforts that are economically practical. Organizer: Joseph Sabol.

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Two good reads on climate disruption:

1) Computer-assisted classification of contrarian claims about climate change
Coan, T.G., Boussalis, C., Cook, J. et al. Sci Rep 11, 22320 (2021).
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-01714-4

2) Climate déjà vu
Science, Vol 387, Issue 6733, p. 455 (21 Jan 2025)
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adw1532

Good Indoor Air Quality requires adequate fresh air exchange. Avoid poorly ventilated indoor areas. Prudent monitoring includes temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide CO, carbon dioxide CO2, volatile organic compounds VOCs, formaldehyde H2CO, and particulates PM2.5. If you do not have a personal monitor, request one from the library of things at your local library.

MERV 13 filters and KN95 masks can slow spreading of aerosols. Observe public health regulations. Prudent practice, including vaccines to provide defense mechanisms.

Michigan Air Quality Dashboard
https://air-egle.hub.arcgis.com/

Wisconsin Air Quality Monitor
https://airquality.wi.gov/home/map

Purple Air
https://www2.purpleair.com/

Local wastewater monitoring is useful in the detection of viruses and other substances of concern in public health. Wisconsin Wastewater Monitoring Program
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/wastewater.htm

Conference Organization

ACS Fall 2026, Chicago, August 23-27
JOINT ENFL & GEOC
Atmospheric Methane: Sources, Sinks, and Solutions
https://callforabstracts.acs.org/acsfall2026

ACS Spring 2026, Atlanta, March 22-26
JOINT ENFL, ENVR, GEOC, I&EC
Methane: Chemistry of a Greenhouse Gas

Atlantic Basin Conference on Chemistry
ABCChem December 2026
Chemical engineering process technology research for global sustainability
https://abcchem.org/

Pacifichem 2025
Honolulu, December 15-20
Approaching Steady-State Atmospheric Methane in the Anthropocene
https://pacifichem.org