In a groundbreaking stride towards unravelling one of the ocean’s most elusive contributors to climate change, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has spearheaded the launch of the Global Climate Impact of Methane Seeps (CliMetS) Initiative. This ambitious global venture, executed through a strategic partnership with the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou) (GML) and a network of more than 200 leading experts, aims to confront the complex challenge of seabed methane emissions and their profound influence on the Earth’s climate system. Sanctioned as an official United Nations Ocean Decade Action, CliMetS marks a pioneering effort to systematically map methane seeps beneath the oceans and quantify their climatic repercussions with an unprecedented level of detail.
Methane (CH4), a hydrocarbon gas and a major component of natural gas, is recognized as a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential exceeding 80 times that of carbon dioxide over a 20-year horizon. Vast quantities of methane are sequestered in marine sediments beneath the seafloor, primarily as methane hydrates or dispersed as free gas. These reservoirs harbor the potential for abrupt release, capable of exacerbating climate change through positive feedback loops that accelerate global warming. The precise magnitude, spatial distribution, and dynamics of these seabed methane emissions, however, remain inadequately characterized due to technological limitations and fragmented regional studies, impeding robust integration into climate models.
Guiding this globally coordinated initiative is Prof. Qian Peiyuan, Chair Professor of the Department of Ocean Science at HKUST, Deputy Director of GML, and Director of the Hong Kong Branch of the GML. His vision is to dismantle the traditionally siloed research landscape of methane seepage by fostering multinational collaboration rooted in equitable knowledge exchange and capacity building, particularly targeting nations of the Global South. These countries often lack access to sophisticated oceanographic infrastructure or advanced analytical technologies pivotal for methane seep research. Through CliMetS, Prof. Qian intends to harness cutting-edge Chinese deep-sea research assets—most notably the deep-sea research vessel Shen Hai Yi Hao and the manned submersible Jiaolong—to foster joint international research cruises dedicated to comprehensive and coordinated seabed exploration on a global scale.
Central to the philosophy of CliMetS is the principle of co-design and co-ownership of the research agenda by regional stakeholders. This approach ensures that local scientific communities and policy makers are not merely participants but equal partners in the definition of research objectives and methodologies. This is particularly vital in the Global South where tailored scientific priorities and actionable insights can drive region-specific climate resilience strategies. By leveraging resources from technologically equipped countries while empowering local expertise, CliMetS epitomizes a sustainable model of international scientific cooperation.
The initiative has gained remarkable traction via a series of regional workshops designed to foster dialogue, identify knowledge gaps, and formulate coordinated research agendas. Collaborative leadership from GML, HKUST, the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other prominent institutions such as the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and the University of Nairobi has played a pivotal role in uniting over 217 scientists from 138 institutions spread across 53 countries. These workshops have not only cultivated a vibrant transcontinental network but have also produced tangible, outcome-driven plans for methane seep research expansion.
Among these efforts, two notable workshops stand out for their regional impact and strategic outputs. The CliMetS-Central and South America Workshop held in Colombia convened over 40 participants—including scholars, government officials, and industry stakeholders—from 12 countries in the Americas. This gathering produced a visionary research roadmap aimed at guiding methane seep exploration and capacity enhancement throughout Latin America. Discussions highlighted systemic deficiencies such as fragmented regional coordination and limited infrastructure, emphasizing the necessity of a unifying platform like CliMetS to synergize scientific efforts, streamline policy interfaces, and elevate regional research frameworks.
Subsequently, the CliMetS-Africa Workshop in Kenya emerged as another landmark event, rallying over 70 experts from 17 African nations to critically assess the current landscape of methane seep studies on the continent. The proceedings yielded an integrated understanding of regional research capabilities, the identification of priority scientific questions, and strategic utilization pathways for infrastructures developed by international agencies including IOC-UNESCO Africa. Notably, the workshop led to the formation of dedicated management teams tasked with the orchestrated planning of research cruises and the establishment of collaborative frameworks to drive forward continental methane seep investigations.
Reflecting on the robust engagement and enthusiasm displayed during these workshops, Prof. Qian underscored the importance of collaborative governance and active participation from both scientific and governmental sectors, including IOC-UNESCO offices. Their involvement not only lends credence to CliMetS’s global significance but also enhances its potential to orchestrate transformative cross-border research initiatives. The unanimous endorsement by workshop participants reaffirms that CliMetS addresses a critical void in the scientific ecosystem by integrating disparate regional efforts and catalyzing a cohesive international research community devoted to methane seep dynamics.
Looking ahead, the CliMetS Initiative is poised to expand its geographic footprint by convening workshops in additional underrepresented regions, thereby enriching the global methane seep research agenda. An integrative global action plan is being formulated, synergizing the insights and priorities emerging from the Americas and Africa workshops. Ambitious campaigns are envisaged to establish a real-time global observatory network capable of continuously monitoring methane seep activity, harnessing advances in sensor technologies, autonomous underwater vehicles, and data analytics frameworks.
The anticipated outcomes of these efforts include the generation of high-fidelity datasets characterizing the spatial-temporal variability and fluxes of seabed methane emissions, which are imperative for refining earth system models used in projecting climate trajectories. By enabling evidence-based policy decisions through more accurate representation of natural greenhouse gas sources, CliMetS holds the promise of significantly enhancing global climate mitigation strategies.
At the intersection of oceanography, climate science, and international collaboration, the Global Climate Impact of Methane Seeps (CliMetS) Initiative exemplifies how science diplomacy and technological innovation can converge to confront urgent environmental challenges. This initiative not only advances fundamental research on the marine methane cycle but also reshapes the landscape of global climate action by empowering diverse scientific communities and fostering sustainable partnerships. The coming decade is set to witness a transformative journey of discovery, capacity building, and impactful science advocacy, with CliMetS standing at the vanguard.
Subject of Research: Global marine methane seepage and its impact on climate change
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Image Credits: HKUST
Keywords: Methane, Climate change
