Text by Martin Benny Pedersen and photos by Ronja Scherfig 

Methane is responsible for about 30 percent of global warming today. In contrast to CO2, which has an atmospheric lifetime of several hundred years, methane breaks down in 10-12 years, but is 80 times more potent over a period of 20 years. Therefore, methane reductions today can significantly slow global warming already this decade. 

That was the focus of the Green Transition Denmark's methane conference, which we held in the Social Democrats' group room at Christiansborg on Wednesday, November 26. Together with researchers, politicians, investors and civil society, we focused on methane reductions in the agricultural and energy sectors as one of the most effective tools to achieve our short-term climate goals and on Denmark's opportunity to take international leadership. 

The moderator at the conference was journalist Anja Bo. 

Introduction

Malte Larsen (S), chairman of the Danish Parliament's Climate, Energy and Utilities Committee, welcomed the participants to the conference, which he hosted.

Framing: Why focus on methane right now? 

Britt Dam, climate and energy advisor at the Danish Green Transition Denmark, then framed the conference by explaining why it is so important to focus on methane right now. She pointed out that we are on the verge of exceeding the Paris Agreement's 1,5-degree target with a global temperature increase of between 2,3-2,5 degrees by the year 2100, and that we are facing a number of climatic tipping points. Because methane has such a fast atmospheric decomposition time, methane reductions can limit warming by 0,2 degrees by 2050, and by reducing methane's contribution to the formation of ground-level ozone – and thus air pollution – we can prevent 180.000 premature deaths and 19 million tons of crop losses annually by 2030 on a global scale. At the same time, the Global Methane Pledge states that methane must be reduced by 30 percent by 2030. compared to 2020, but under current global policies, methane concentrations will increase by 5 percent in 2030. 

“The more concerned we are about global warming in the short term, the more we need to reduce methane emissions” – Britt Dam, climate and energy advisor at the Green Transition Denmark

Why is methane the key to rapid climate reductions?

Following Britt's framework, Jesper Riis Christiansen, associate professor at the Department of Geosciences and Nature Management at the University of Copenhagen, took the stage.. Jesper is a researcher to this dayespecially in where efficient extraction of shallow waterlands and forestsCooling is a climate solution in DenmarkIn his presentation told Jesper about methane properties as a greenhouse gas, including that it is dynamic, which means that it responds quickly to human activitiesTherefore, methane reductions today can slow down global temperature increases in the short term. Likewise pointed Jasper, that the most effective reduction right now is to stop industrial methane-leaks, but that agricultural emissions must also be reduced, although these are more complex. In agriculture, CO2-emissions from low-lying soils 1/3 of the sector's total emissions, og This is precisely why the removal of low-lying soils is a key climate measure. After the wetting of low-lying soils, methane emissions increase immediately, but so does the system's ability to absorb net CO2 notTherefore, it takes time before the methane effect is neutralized af increased CO2-record in it wet-laid areaMethane is therefore the key to how fast and effective wet laying is for the climate impact of the removal of low-lying soils in the Green Triangle.

“The fact that methane responds quickly to human activities is good, as it can slow down warming” – Jesper Riis Christiansen, Associate Professor at the Department of Geosciences and Nature Management, Forest and Landscape Ecology, University of Copenhagen

Methane reductions in the agricultural sector 

Christian Ege Jørgensen, senior consultant at the Danish Green Transition Denmark, then set the stage for the subsequent panel debate on reductions in agriculture by providing an overview of agricultural emissions and available reduction instruments. He emphasized that there is a need for a wide range of measures, including preventive measures such as increased cultivation of plant products for human consumption and a more plant-based diet – both in Denmark and for export, so that we can develop and future-proof Danish agriculture. He emphasized that reductions cannot be achieved with feed additives such as Bovaer alone.

How can agriculture reduce emissions?

The following panel debate was attended by Frank Willem Oudshoorn, chief researcher, dr.ir., at the Innovation Center for Organic Agriculture, Hans Roust Thysen, climate manager at Agriculture & Food, and Sophie Hastrup Christensen, chief agricultural policy consultant at the Danish Society for Animal Protection. 

There was broad agreement in the panel that we (continue) to address methane emissions from agriculture, which in 2024 accounted for a full 83 percent of Denmark's total methane emissions. Frank particularly highlighted organic farming as a solution, as organic farming involves different manure management. Studies from the Netherlands and Denmark also show that grazing cows emit less methane than cows in stables. Hans pointed out that organic farming is just a of the of the solution, as according to him it is about bringing all the instruments we have into play, and that we handle the risks associated with these without being paralyzed by action. In this context, Sophie stressed the importance of conducting animal welfare assessments for all climate measures that involve animals. 

Hans further emphasized that methane emissions from the cows' digestive processes can be reduced by, among other things, letting them age and by frequently dropping manure into deep bedding, and that biosolutions can also be a means of action. He appealed that "you should listen twice as much as you talk". 

Sophie first highlighted that the food system is responsible for five out of the seven planetary boundaries that have been exceeded, which requires us to think in terms of systemic solutions and fundamentally confront the production structure we see today. She referred to figures from the Climate Council showing that Danish agriculture in 2020 covered the protein needs of minus seven million people – a result of the large animal production in Denmark, which means that 75 percent of Danish agricultural land is used to grow feed for livestock. At the same time, she expressed concern about the development we see today, where, among other things, attempts are being made to change the biology of the cow rather than the system itself. She concluded with a call for the EU to rethink agricultural support so that it rewards farmers who contribute to common goods and animal welfare, but at the same time with an appeal that we do not pull the rug out from under agriculture. 

Methane reductions in the energy sector 

After a short break, we started the second part of the conference, where Britt Dam, climate and energy advisor at the Danish Council for the Green Transition, focused on the EU's Methane Regulation from 2024, which covers both EU production and imports. Britt then gave an overview of Danish methane emissions from the energy sector; here, residential areas and energy-related activities from agriculture, forestry and fishing account for the majority of emissions at 33 percent, followed by public electricity and heat production and methane leaks from oil and gas products, which account for 30 and 29 percent respectively.

Britt concluded by focusing on dea threat, as Methanethe ordinance right now is up against from especially you wereThe lobby and the trade agreement that the EU concluded with the US in July 2025. The US is pressing namely on weakening import requirements, and that pressure could lead to deregulation in the EU. At the same time, there has been a significant increase in negative lobbying activity after the EU presented 'Roadmap to Phase out Russian Gas'.

This pressure is problematic, as methane reductions in the energy sector are the most cost-effective climate action, according to the UN Environment Programme, that provide quick and measurable results. At the same time, eroding the regulation risks more expensive and slower reductions – and thus a weakened climate contribution – as well as more energy waste, which weakens security of supply. Britt therefore appealed that methane reductions in the energy sector should not be undermined.

The EU Methane Regulation and Denmark's implementation thereof

To provide more information about the Methane Regulation and Denmark's implementation of this – the first full implementation in the EU – we were visited by the Danish Energy Agency, represented by Ebru Berra Ekici, the representative. The Danish Energy Agency acts as Denmark's competent authority, supervising and controlling that operators and importers comply with the regulation, and the agency also shares knowledge with other countries regarding how, following Denmark's example, rules can be set that supplement the Methane Regulation. Through laws and executive orders on supplementary provisions to the regulation, Denmark has laid down rules on, among other things, sanctions for failure to comply with the regulation. Among other things, the financial benefit obtained as a result of any failure to comply with the regulation may be confiscated.

How can Denmark maintain its leading position and ensure effective reductions? 

The final panel debate was attended by Henrik Frandsen, climate, energy and supply spokesperson for the Moderates, Søren Egge Rasmussen, energy, supply and agriculture spokesperson for the Unity Party, Renée Tengberg, ESG Director, Climate and Nature, Responsible Investments at Nordea Asset Management, and Jesper Riis Christiansen, associate professor, Department of Geosciences and Nature Management, Forest and Landscape Ecology at the University of Copenhagen. 

There were, among other things, appeals for the Methane Regulation to remain intact, as it is important to ensure stability for investors, that we in Denmark and Europe maintain the level of ambition, and that we address the cost-effective measures. Along the way, technology to detect methane emissions was also highlighted - such as the satellite 'MethaneSAT' and the aircraft 'MethaneAIR'. There were also discussions about whether biogas should be part of the solution.

Green Transition Denmark recommends: Denmark should prepare a national methane reduction plan

Britt Dam concluded the conference by emphasizing that Denmark, as a green pioneer, has a special responsibility to maintain and defend the Methane Regulation in the EU, as we are the first member state to have implemented the regulation – and thereby shown that it is practically possible. At the same time, Denmark was a co-signatory of the Global Methane Pledge, led by former Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy Dan Jørgensen, who is currently responsible for maintaining the regulation's ambition as Commissioner for Energy and Housing. 

In a Danish context, we should translate the regulation into a strategic tool with concrete plans and targets for methane reductions of 40-45 percent via the preparation of a national methane reduction plan – as signatories of the Global Methane Pledge are encouraged to prepare. We should prevent methane emissions in agriculture by having fewer livestock and more plant-based production, and in the energy sector we should stop oil and gas production in the North Sea by 2040 and present a phase-out plan for gas boilers with a final stop in 2035. 

Finally, Britt called for us to incorporate the 20-year perspective into climate policy. 

Download PowerPoints in PDF format on the right side of the page. 

The conference program can be seen here: Conference: Methane Reductions: Our Lifeline to Limit Global Temperature Rises?

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