1309 THE METHANE CHALLENGE: ASPECTS OF IMPLEMENTING THE EU REGULATION ON REDUCING METHANE EMISSIONS IN THE POLISH HARD COAL SECTOR P. Litwa1, M. Krzystolik2 1, 2 State Mining Authority, Poland ABSTRACT Methane emissions into the atmosphere are a very important component of the global greenhouse balance, and their importance is growing in light of new scientific data. The rapidly growing impact of methane on the climate and the possibility of technically reducing methane emissions were identified as the most effective objective for short-term climate policy. The reduction in methane emissions contributes to a relatively rapid improvement in air quality and slows climate change, and achieving this is profitable because methane is a valuable energy source. KEYWORDS Methane emission; EU methane regulations 1. METHANE EMISSIONS WORLDWIDE AND IN EUROPE In 2025, EDGAR (Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research) released data on global greenhouse gas emissions, including methane emissions (EDGAR_CH4_1970_2024 - Fig. No. 1). Invariably, for many years, the world's largest issuers of methane include China, India, the USA and Brazil. In 2024, methane emissions in China will exceed 50 million tons, and in India, the USA and Brazil it amounted to 30.5 million tonnes, 29.1 million tonnes and 22.1 million tonnes, respectively. In this pledge, which includes data from 223 countries, Poland ranks 43rd in 2024 (as it did the year before) with methane emissions slightly exceeding 1.5 million tonnes.
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