The inaugural session of the course \u201cMethane and Climate: The Science of Methane and its Contribution to Climate Change\u201d was held as part of an initiative led by the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) and the Methane Emissions Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean (OEMLAC). This training program aims to strengthen technical capacities across the region to better understand the role methane plays in accelerating climate change and the strategies required to mitigate it. The course covers the scientific foundations of methane and its interaction with the climate system, the main emission sources and global trends, the impacts on health, ecosystems and air quality, as well as regional and international initiatives designed to reduce emissions in Latin America and the Caribbean.<\/p>\n
During the opening session, Gloria Alvarenga, Director of Integration, Access and Energy Security at OLACDE, highlighted the importance of this topic for the region, emphasizing that reducing emissions is one of the most effective strategies to limit global warming in the short term, meet climate commitments across multiple sectors and generate significant social, economic and environmental benefits. Gast\u00f3n Siroit, Technical Advisor at OLACDE, noted that this course sets an important precedent for understanding how methane is generated, its impacts and how mitigation strategies can be addressed across different sectors.<\/p>\n
The first session was delivered by Alejandra Garz\u00f3n, Technical Coordinator of OEMLAC, who explained the processes of methane formation and removal, the main sources of emissions and its direct link to climate change. She also presented regional and global mitigation initiatives, underscoring the importance of technical cooperation and capacity-building to face this challenge. Garz\u00f3n emphasized that the purpose of this training is to ensure that more stakeholders understand why it is strategic to prioritize methane mitigation in the short term, given its impact on global warming and its relevance across sectors.<\/p>\n
This training initiative reinforces OLACDE\u2019s commitment to promoting knowledge, strengthening technical capacities and advancing cooperation among countries in the region, integrating professionals into the development of solutions to address climate change. OLACDE invites participants to join the next session of the course, where discussions will continue on emission sources and mitigation strategies that are shaping climate action in Latin America and the Caribbean.<\/p>\n