Atmospheric methane removal: a research agenda
Robert B. Jackson, Sam Abernethy, Josep G. Canadell, Matteo Cargnello, Steven J. Davis, Sarah Féron, Sabine Fuss, Alexander J. Heyer, Chaopeng Hong, Chris Jones, H. Damon Matthews, Fiona M. O’Connor, Maxwell Pisciotta, Hannah M. Rhoda, Renaud de Richter, Edward I. Solomon, Jennifer Wilcox, Kirsten Zickfeld
Abstract
methane oxidation to carbon dioxide) may be needed to offset continued methane release and limit the global warming contribution of this potent greenhouse gas. Because mitigating most anthropogenic emissions of methane is uncertain this century, and sudden methane releases from the Arctic or elsewhere cannot be excluded, technologies for methane removal or oxidation may be required. Carbon dioxide removal has an increasingly well-established research agenda and technological foundation. No similar framework exists for methane removal. We believe that a research agenda for negative methane emissions-'removal' or atmospheric methane oxidation-is needed. We outline some considerations for such an agenda here, including a proposed Methane Removal Model Intercomparison Project (MR-MIP). This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Rising methane: is warming feeding warming? (part 1)'.