Summary
Sections of the Ghazipur landfill in New Delhi burst into flames on Sunday, causing dangerous heat and methane emissions. By Tuesday, the blaze at the capital’s largest landfill had largely been put out, but people living nearby complained of throat and eye irritation. The cause of the fire remains unknown; landfill blazes are often triggered by combustible gases from disintegrating garbage.
If India can reduce its methane output, it could help the world lower its greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists estimate the reduction could cut global temperature rise by 0.2% – and help the target of keeping global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius. India has said it won’t join because most of its methane emissions come from farming.
