US, EU eye 30-percent cut in methane emissions by 2030: report

Over two dozen countries, including China, Russia, India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Qatar also expected to join the pledge.

The United States and the European Union have agreed to try and cut emissions of the planet-warming gas methane by about one-third by the end of this decade and are pushing other chief economies to join them, according to documents seen by the Reuters news agency. Their pact comes as Washington and Brussels seek to galvanise other key economies ahead of a world summit to address climate change in Glasgow, Scotland, in November and could have a significant effect on the energy, agriculture and waste industries responsible for the bulk of methane emissions, Reuters reported on Tuesday. The greenhouse gas methane, the biggest cause of climate change after carbon dioxide (CO2), is facing more scrutiny as governments search for solutions to limit global warming to 1.5C (2.7F), a goal of the Paris climate agreement.