From a Research Agenda to Federal Action on Methane Removal

Scrubbing the Skies hosts Rep. Kevin Mullin, Dr. Gabrielle Dreyfus, and Dr. Jeremy Semrau to discuss the MRRIA.

The Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal and Spark Climate Solutions host Rep. Kevin Mullin, Dr. Gabby Dreyfus, and Dr. Jeremy Semrau to discuss the Methane Removal Research and Innovation Act (MRRIA) and the case for a coordinated federal research effort on atmospheric methane removal in the latest episode of Scrubbing the Skies.

Issue Overview

Methane is responsible for roughly 30% of current warming. It also drives ground-level ozone pollution, harming human health and crops. While cutting methane emissions remains the top priority, a growing body of science suggests emissions reductions alone may not be enough: some sources, like global agriculture, are likely to persist for decades, and climate change itself may be increasing natural methane emissions while weakening the atmosphere's own capacity to break methane down. In 2024, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a landmark report — A Research Agenda Toward Atmospheric Methane Removal — laying out a research agenda and recommending significant new public investment to determine whether atmospheric methane removal could be a viable tool.

This episode explores how that research agenda is beginning to translate into federal action. Rep. Kevin Mullin will share remarks on the bipartisan Methane Removal Research and Innovation Act, newly introduced legislation that would direct the Department of Energy to establish a coordinated research initiative implementing many of the National Academies' recommendations. Dr. Gabby Dreyfus, who chaired the National Academies committee, will unpack the report's findings and research priorities, and Dr. Jeremy Semrau will offer a scientist's perspective on biological methane removal methods and why DOE's Office of Science is well positioned to lead this work. Together, the panel will discuss why this research matters now — and why Congress should act to support methane removal research.