Emissions of methane must be reduced urgently for the countries of the world to meet the goal of the Paris Agreement on a global warming of the earth's temperature by no more than 1.5 degrees, according to a UN report released next week.
Methane has a greater impact on the climate than carbon dioxide per unit weight.
The gas is also broken down faster in the atmosphere.
In the long run, this means that a reduction in methane emissions could lead to a faster decrease in average temperature compared with a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
The report states that it is possible to reduce methane emissions from human activity by 45 percent by 2030.
On Tuesday, at least 80 of the countries participating in COP26 in Glasgow agreed to reduce methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030.
"Low hanging fruit"
EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen and US President Joe Biden spoke to each other about the decision.
- We can not wait until 2050, we must reduce emissions quickly, it is low-hanging fruit, says von der Leyen and points out that it is one of the most effective the world can do to achieve the Paris Agreement's goal of keeping the increase in the earth's average temperature to a maximum of 1 ,5 degrees.
Joe Biden says during a speech at the climate conference that the decision is of utmost importance.
- What we do during this decade will affect whether we have the opportunity to fulfill our long-term promises.
Despite the fact that the pandemic has meant that humans burn less with fossil fuels than otherwise, higher levels of carbon dioxide and methane are noted in the atmosphere this year than ever before.
This is stated in an article in the journal Bioscience, with approximately 14,000 signatories, one of whom is Swedish Johan Rockström, professor of environmental science and head of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research in Berlin.
Agriculture accounts for 40 percent of all methane emissions caused by humans.