Very resistant to the idea of joining the global agreement to cut methane emissions, Brazil had to give in to pressure from the US, which led the initiative, supported by the European Union (EU). The world got to know about Brazil’s commitment via Itamaraty’s Twitter announcement. Along with 96 countries, Brazil then committed to reducing 30% of global methane emissions by 2030, compared to 2020 levels.

“As part of the COP-26 negotiations Brazil will join the Global Methane Commitment. Brazil is part of the solution to the challenges of climate change,” the tweet reads.

When the proposal reached the government, on the occasion of the UN General Assembly, representatives of the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Environment, Energy and Science, Technology and Innovations, and Agriculture and Livestock were against the idea.

It could not be different, most of the gas emissions in the country are from livestock. Of the 20.2 million tons of methane emitted in Brazil in 2020, 14.5 million correspond to this activity. In all, 97% comes from enteric fermentation – the cattle’s burp – and animal waste management. According to the System of Estimates of Emissions and Removals of Greenhouse Gases, Seeg, the sector’s emissions index is about 70%.

To reach the goal, Brazil will need to reduce its herd or invest in improving cattle farming.

Much more powerful in capturing heat, methane’s impact on global warming is more than 80 times greater than CO2 in the short term. Altogether 60% of the gas emissions come from human activity, which corresponds to 30% of global warming.

The pressure on the Brazilian embassy came from the US State Department, and then the Brazilian ambassador in Washington, Nestor Foster, convinced Itamaraty to be part of the coalition.

For now, it is a political agreement, and it is not known whether, in fact, the countries will be able to comply with the agreement. After all, it is not clear how much Brazil will have to cut, since the 30% cut does not define the division of percentages among the countries.

If Brazil does not comply, its image will be tarnished, but since the Bolsonaro government does not care much about this, we can only hope.

Of course, those who adhere and then don’t comply have to pay for the damage to their image – which is what counts for consumers and investors. For climate protection, cutting methane emissions is excellent. Human activity accounts for 60 percent of methane gas emissions, which are responsible for 30 percent of global warming.

Translated by Fatima Ventura