Missing Methane: Countries May Be Underestimating Wastewater Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Missing methane: Countries may be underestimating wastewater greenhouse gas emissions

The amount of greenhouse gases produced by the wastewater sector may be higher than reports suggest. According to a paper published in the journal Nature Climate Change, countries are missing out on reporting a significant portion of their emissions.

Why are wastewater greenhouse gases underestimated?

Gaps in national inventories for wastewater emissions Recent analyses show that many countries report lower greenhouse‑gas emissions from the wastewater sector than independent assessments suggest. A peer‑reviewed paper and related reviews highlight systematic shortfalls in national accounting…

Environmental News Network - Many Nations Underestimate Greenhouse Emissions From Wastewater Systems, But the Lapse is Fixable

Nations worldwide underestimate greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater systems, research from Princeton University shows. Outdated inventory methods and failure to include items like latrines and untreated sewage in national reports are main reasons.

Many Nations Underestimate Greenhouse Emissions From Wastewater Systems, But the Lapse is Fixable

Nations worldwide underestimate greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater systems, research from Princeton University shows. Outdated inventory methods and failure to include items like latrines and untreated sewage in national reports are main reasons.

Millions of tonnes of wastewater emissions go unreported

Countries around the world are significantly under-reporting greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment, creating a blind spot in global climate accounting that could undermine efforts to meet net-zero targets, new research has revealed. The study analysed national inventory reports from 38 countries and found widespread omissions and inconsistencies in methodology.  The researchers estimate that these gaps amount to between 52 and 73 mi…