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About
the Conference
Planned Events
The conference featured detailed discussions on important sources
of methane and nitrous oxide, including landfills and sewage management,
natural gas and oil systems, coal mining, and agriculture. Attendees
participated in source-specific discussions on characterizing
emission sources, using proven and innovative technologies to reduce
emissions, and overcoming the barriers to project development. Cross-cutting
themes, such as monitoring and verification procedures, the economics
of mitigation, and multi-gas/multi-source analyses, were featured
throughout the conference. Participation of international experts
helped establish a global picture of the potential for expanded
methane and nitrous oxide mitigation.
Field trips and workshops supplemented the discussions at the
conference. Field trip participants visited project sites, inspect
methane and nitrous oxide mitigation operations, and visited with
project managers. Workshops discussed specific topics in an environment
that allowed for extended, intensive dialogue.
Conference Background
The 3rd International Methane and Nitrous Oxide Conference is the
only major international conference focusing on the mitigation of
methane. The first two conferences in the series were held in Kiev,
Ukraine, in 1997 and Novosibirsk, Russia, in 2000. More than 200
participants from 30 nations attended the Novosibirsk meeting. The
organizers of the third conference encouraged a wide
range of participants from both industrialized and developing nations.
To this end, the official languages of the conference were Chinese and English.
As a greenhouse gas, methane is 21 times more potent than carbon
dioxide and is the second most important greenhouse gas. Methane,
however, is also a fuel. Capturing and utilizing methane not only
reduces greenhouse gas emissions, it harnesses this resource to
provide a reliable, economic and cleaner burning source of energy.
For these reasons, methane mitigation is now an essential and cost-effective
element of any global climate change action plan.
Nitrous oxide is the next most significant greenhouse gas after
methane. At agricultural sources, methane and nitrous oxide emissions
are closely related and must be jointly addressed.
Who Should Attend?
In the past, conference participants have included:
- Project developers
- Government officials
- Industry representatives
- Finance professionals and other investment managers
- Scientists and engineers
- Representatives of non-government organizations
By bringing together leaders with varied professional backgrounds
and areas of expertise, the conference provided a stimulating
atmosphere for cooperation and collaboration. Participants
benefited by:
- Improving their understanding of the different approaches to
methane and nitrous oxide mitigation
- Receiving the most up-to-date news relating to methane and
nitrous oxide emissions, including information about recovery
potential and end-use markets
- Discussing how to most effectively set project baselines and
conduct monitoring and verification activities
- Addressing the key barriers to implementing mitigation projects
- Coordinating plans for future research and analysis
- Laying a foundation for productive, long-term relationships
with other conference participants
The conference was an excellent forum for technology transfer,
with a focused program and practical discussions of technological
applications to methane mitigation and recovery. The conference
also brought together project developers and investment managers,
potentially stimulating investment in mitigation projects!
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