EPA also recently joined representatives from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Columbia, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Ukraine, and the UK to create a global initiative to advance international cooperation on the recovery and use of methane as a valuable clean energy source. The Methane to Markets Partnership has the potential to reduce net methane emissions by up to 50 million metric tons of carbon equivalent annually by 2015 and continue at that level or higher in the future. Capturing and using recovered methane provides a valuable, clean-burning energy source that improves quality of life in local communities, EPA reports. Participating countries are expected to undertake activities aimed at capturing and using methane emitted from landfills, coal mines, and oil and gas systems.
