World leaders reach 'game-changing commitment' at COP26

According to Sky News, this commitment is part of efforts to address the climate crisis at the COP26 conference taking place in Glasgow, UK.

The Global Methane Pledge is an international initiative, promoted by the US and EU, to reduce methane emissions and is an effective way to slow global warming in the short term. John Kerry, the climate envoy of President Joe Biden's administration, said that more than 100 countries have responded to this effort to achieve the committed targets.

The announcement was made by Mr. Kerry before President Biden andPresident of the European CommissionUrsula von der Leyen appeared together in Glasgow to announce details of the plan.

The Biden administration plans to tackle oil and gas wells, pipelines and other infrastructure first, as part of a larger strategy to tackle climate change.

The strategy’s goal is to cut near-term warming by 0.2 degrees Celsius, by reducing methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030. This may seem like a small change, but it could have a huge impact on the severity and frequency of extreme weather events. It would also significantly improve public health and agricultural productivity, thanks to reduced ozone pollution.

Speaking at the conference, US President Joe Biden thanked those who signed the "commitment to change the game".

"What we do in this decisive decade... will influence whether we can meet our longer-term commitment. One of the most important things we can do in this decisive decade to keep 1.5 degrees within reach is to reduce methane as quickly as possible. As we said, it's one of the most potent greenhouse gases. It contributes to about half of the warming we're experiencing today," Biden explained.

Methane is the second-largest greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide (CO2). It has a higher heat-trapping capacity than CO2 but breaks down in the atmosphere more quickly, meaning cutting methane emissions could have a rapid impact on curbing global warming.