The press office of the University of Birmingham in the UK indicates that international trade and the agricultural sector played a major role in this growth.

Professor Sean Yule from the university said: “Methane molecules have a very short lifespan in the atmosphere, so any reduction in emissions will have an immediate impact on the climate. Our findings highlight the need for coordinated global efforts to combat methane emissions, especially in developing countries where emissions of this gas are rapidly increasing.”

Scientists pointed out that this study is the first to examine methane emissions in detail at the country level, taking into account production and consumption of goods. This allowed for assessing the impact of international trade and division of labor on global warming, as well as a fairer distribution of responsibility among countries.

The study included data on methane emissions from 120 economic sectors in 164 countries. Total emissions increased by 9% during the period, from 266 to 292 million tons annually, but the emission structure changed significantly. Developed countries were the main source of methane in 1990, accounting for 37% of emissions (100 million tons). By 2023, their emissions had decreased by 25%, while emissions in Asian and Oceanian countries increased by 94%, from 87 to 169 million tons.

Climate scientists note that only developed countries have managed to decouple economic growth from increased greenhouse gas emissions. About one-third of the increase in methane emissions is linked to international trade, as well as the production and use of fertilizers, leading to a sharp rise in emissions in developing countries.

It is worth noting that methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, with its molecules’ short-term effect on Earth’s thermal balance being tens of times greater than that of carbon dioxide. According to current climate scientists’ estimates, about one-third of global warming is caused by methane emissions.