Introduction

Methane is a short-lived but highly potent greenhouse gas, with 84-86 times the warming impact of CO₂ over 20 years. India is among the world’s largest methane emitters, primarily from waste, agriculture, and fossil fuel systems. However, weak monitoring systems, infrequent data updates, and reliance on modelling assumptions have led to substantial underestimation of actual emissions.

Why in the News?

Satellite datasets have, for the first time, revealed that methane emissions from Indian landfills, oil and gas infrastructure, and urban waste sites are significantly underreported, sometimes by a factor of ten. This challenges long-standing inventory-based estimates and highlights a systemic gap between ground reporting and atmospheric reality, making methane a missed but high-impact climate mitigation opportunity.

Why is methane a critical climate concern for India?

1. High Global Warming Potential: Methane traps significantly more heat than carbon dioxide in the short term, accelerating near-term warming.
2. Multi-sectoral Sources: Emissions arise from landfills, wastewater, oil and gas leaks, and organic waste decomposition.
3. Urban Climate Impact: Large cities generate concentrated methane hotspots due to unmanaged solid waste.
4. Policy Leverage: Rapid methane reduction delivers faster climate benefits than long-term CO₂ mitigation.

How have satellite observations changed methane assessment?

1. Independent Measurement: Satellites measure atmospheric methane directly, bypassing assumptions used in inventories.
2. High Spatial Resolution: New platforms identify emissions down to individual landfills and infrastructure sites.
3. First-of-its-Kind Evidence: Indian sites show emissions up to 10x higher than reported estimates.
4. Comparative Accuracy: Satellite data highlights discrepancies between national inventories and real emissions.

What gaps exist in India’s current methane inventories?

1. Model-Based Estimates: Inventories rely on default emission factors and outdated waste generation data.
2. Infrequent Updates: Sector-wise methane data is updated irregularly at national and state levels.
3. Source Aggregation: Individual hotspots are masked under regional averages.
4. Limited Ground Validation: Physical measurement is rare due to cost, logistics, and technical complexity.

What do case studies from Indian cities reveal?

1. Delhi (Bhalswa Landfill): Satellite data showed emissions nearly 10 times higher than older estimates.
2. Mumbai: Emissions from urban waste approached ~0.96 million tonnes, far exceeding theoretical calculations.
3. Ahmedabad: State estimates at 0.73 million tonnes, with Pirana landfill alone emitting ~0.60 million tonnes.
4. City-Specific Variability: Differences driven by landfill design, waste composition, and management practices.

Why is landfill methane particularly underestimated?

1. Waste Heterogeneity: Indian landfills mix organic, plastic, and industrial waste.
2. Unengineered Dumps: Most sites lack liners, gas capture systems, or leachate control.
3. Invisible Emissions: Methane leaks remain undetected without advanced monitoring.
4. Urban Scale: Mega-cities generate continuous methane flows, not episodic spikes.

What are the limits of satellite-only monitoring?

1. Attribution Challenges: Satellites detect plumes but not exact causes.
2. Complex Urban Signals: Dense cities create overlapping emission sources.
3. Limited Temporal Coverage: Some emissions remain intermittent or weather-dependent.
4. Need for Integration: Satellite data requires ground verification for enforcement.

How does integrated monitoring improve governance outcomes?

1. Targeted Enforcement: Identifies precise leak points for corrective action.
2. Policy Feedback Loop: Enables rapid response instead of delayed reporting cycles.
3. Institutional Coordination: Links urban bodies, pollution boards, and climate agencies.
4. Cost Efficiency: Directs resources toward highest-impact mitigation sites.

Conclusion

Methane emissions in India are not merely underestimated but structurally obscured by outdated inventories and weak monitoring frameworks. Satellite detection has exposed a significant mitigation opportunity, particularly in urban waste systems. Integrating satellite data with ground-level governance can transform methane control into one of India’s fastest climate gains.

PYQ Relevance

[UPSC 2022]  Discuss global warming and mention its effects on global climate. Explain the control measures to bring down the level of greenhouse gasses which cause global warming in the light of the Kyoto Protocol 1997. 

Linkage: This PYQ directly links to methane as a high-impact greenhouse gas and tests understanding of non-CO₂ mitigation, where the article highlights systematic underestimation of methane emissions in India and the need for improved monitoring to achieve climate control commitments.

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