During the last three days, experts from Germany, in cooperation with specialists from Clean Air Action Group, measured at several sites in Hungary the concentration of two climate- and air-polluting substances in the air: methane and black carbon (soot). The measurements demonstrated a high concentration of these harmful substances at several sites. The good news is that these emissions could be reduced quickly, which would have a practically immediate positive effect both on local air quality and on climate change. Therefore, the governments should urgently take the necessary measures.

Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, accounting for more than 35% of global warming in the atmosphere. However – in contrast to carbon dioxide, which, once emitted, remains in the atmosphere for several centuries – half of the methane emitted disappears from the atmosphere in 10 years. Moreover, since methane is a major precursor of ground-level ozone, its reduction immediately decreases the concentration of ozone, thus avoiding many illnesses and damages to agricultural production.

In the last three days, experts from the German organisation Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), with the help of specialists from Clean Air Action Group, conducted measurements of methane concentration at various sites in Hungary, such as near buildings, gas lines, biogas stations, landfills, and power plants. About the results, Axel Friedrich, former Head of the Transport Department of the German Environment Agency, one of the world's most renowned air quality experts, said: “I have done many measurements in my life, but I have never measured such a high methane concentration as at a gas pipe at a family house near Budapest. My measurements at other buildings also showed leakages of methane. This is evidently a result of the lack of maintenance. This was shocking for me, since in Germany, gas pipes and gas installations at buildings as well as are mandatorily checked every five years. Since we measured leakages at other sites, too, the government agencies should regularly control and take effective measures to reduce methane emissions. This is necessary not only for environmental but also for economic reasons: every molecule of methane that does not escape into the atmosphere brings revenues for the gas companies.”

Another important climate pollutant is black carbon (soot), which is a solid particle and not a gas, but heats the atmosphere to a similar extent to methane. Black carbon is also the most harmful air pollutant for our health, since it often contains highly toxic components. Since black carbon remains in the atmosphere only for six weeks, its reduction would have an immediate positive effect on climate and air quality. Although the majority of black carbon is emitted from the combustion of solid materials like coal and wood, the amount emitted by traffic cannot be neglected either. This is proven by the measurements on busy streets in Budapest. Simon Annen, Deputy Head of the Emissions Control Institute of DUH, said: “According to our measurements on Blaha Lujza square in the afternoon, the concentration of black carbon was 8000 nanograms per cubic meter, which was 8 to 10 times higher than the concentration that we measured in a pedestrian street.”

The measurements have been part of the international project “Methane Matters” that aims to prepare recommendations for governments on ways to quickly and cost-effectively reduce the emission of methane.