Take part in the emerging scientific discussion on methane removal research, and learn from leading scientists as we explore the challenges and opportunities of this new research area.
Join Spark Climate Solutions for monthly webinars, as we host scientists from around the world to discuss their research and explore challenges and opportunities associated with methane removal research.
Methane removal is an emerging area of climate research with potential to be part of a portfolio approach for addressing climate risks. Methane is a short-lived, powerful greenhouse gas characterized by diverse anthropogenic sources, strong radiative forcing, increasing atmospheric concentration, and a risk of growing emissions from natural sources. Potential atmospheric methane removal approaches are being explored to accelerate natural methane breakdown processes. All approaches are at an early stage, and much more research is needed to understand how, and if, methane removal may be a feasible, safe, and acceptable addition to the climate response portfolio.
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Recorded August 13, 2025
Despite progress in policies to reduce anthropogenic emissions, atmospheric methane concentrations continue to rise. Even during periods like the COVID-19 lockdowns, when human activity sharply declined, methane concentrations increased at their fastest rate since direct measurements began. What’s behind this rise? Increasing evidence points to the growing influence of factors like warming-induced emissions from wetlands and permafrost, ecosystem disturbances like fire and drought, and shifting atmospheric chemistry that affects methane’s lifetime. These complex feedbacks and sink behaviors remain poorly constrained in current models, posing risks to climate stability and complicating our path forward. Read more in our recent blog post, exploring what’s driving record breaking methane.
While mitigation remains the first and most critical priority, better understanding these evolving dynamics is essential to assessing whether additional tools, including atmospheric methane removal, may be needed to complement existing strategies.
Listen to our conversation with Dr. Brian Buma (EDF, University of Colorado), Dr. Arlene Fiore (MIT), and Dr. Ben Poulter (formerly NASA and White House Science Office, now Spark Climate Solutions), exploring how the drivers of atmospheric methane growth are changing in a changing climate system, and what role hypothesized interventions such as atmospheric methane removal may play as part of a climate response toolkit.
Recorded May 22, 2025
Methane removal approaches are still in early stages of research, and consideration of the legal frameworks that could apply to field testing and any future potential deployment is critical for responsible governance. Which national and international laws come into play vary significantly based on the approach and the location where field tests or deployment may be considered in the future; atmospheric oxidation enhancement in particular presents a challenge of intersecting juridictions and types of risks. As more is known about approaches, legal frameworks must proactively evolve as well.
Spark hosted Romany Webb and Korey Silverman-Roati of the Columbia Sabin Center for Climate Change Law in a conversation about their analysis of the current legal frameworks for atmospheric oxidation enhancement and soil amendments, and their perspectives on how to build a responsible legal foundation for methane removal governance.
Recorded April 24, 2025
Removal of methane from the atmosphere using reactor systems is an emerging area of research, which may use surface-based catalysts, gas-phase radicals, or microbes to break down or consume methane flowing through them. Reactor technologies are already being applied to address dilute methane emission sources, such as dairy barns or coal mines; what would it take for reactors to have efficacy at atmospheric methane concentrations (2 ppm) and climate-relevant scale? Are there possible technologies to add methane removal capacity to direct air capture (DAC) capacity?
Spark hosted Prof. Lisa Stein (University of Alberta), Prof. Adam Boies (Stanford University), and Prof. Matthew Johnson (University of Copenhagen) to discuss the potential of reactors for atmospheric methane removal. They each have different approaches to this challenge, Prof. Stein researches bioreactors, Prof. Boies investigates catalysis and the challenge of accessing airflow at scale, and Prof. Johnson is developing gas-phase radical reactors. Watch to learn more about explore the science, engineering, and feasibility of reactor-based methane removal for meaningful climate impact.
Recorded March 11, 2025
Atmospheric oxidation enhancement (AOE) has been proposed as a pathway to remove excess atmospheric methane, but it is challenging to assess scenarios where these strategies could be effective and safe. What approaches might be worth considering? How can we improve the models used to evaluate them?
Spark hosted Dr. Jessica Haskins (University of Utah) and Dr. Hannah Horowitz (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) to discuss atmospheric oxidation enhancement and what research is needed to investigate if there may be a pathway to safe and acceptable use for these methods. Jessica is the co-author of a recent paper highlighting potential air quality side-effects of emitting hydrogen peroxide to enhance methane oxidation, and Hannah is the author of an analysis of several AOE approaches (preprint) commissioned by the National Academies committee that prepared a Research Agenda Toward Atmospheric Methane Removal.
Recorded February 11, 2025
Homeworld Collective’s co-founder and Founding Scientist, Paul Reginato, PhD, discusses the outcomes of a November 2024 Workshop on Biological Methane Removal. This workshop, co-hosted by Homeworld Collective and Spark Climate Solutions, brought together over 40 interdisciplinary experts to identify critical problems constraining the field of biological methane removal and express them in problem statements. The webinar covered high-level scientific themes and research needs emerging from the workshop and lessons learned from this innovative workshop format.
Recorded April 25, 2024
Recorded March 15, 2024
Recorded January 9, 2024
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