Last Update: 04/05/2026 at 2:50 PM EST
Wastewater Emissions Underreported Worldwide
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Executive Summary
Princeton researchers say outdated methods leave wastewater methane and nitrous oxide inventories 19 to 27 percent too low
- Princeton researchers compared wastewater inventories across 38 countries on five continents
- National reports miss sources such as latrines, septic tanks, leaks, overflows, and untreated sewage
- Reliance on 2006 IPCC guidance drives much of the undercounting
- Updated 2019 methods capture wastewater emissions more accurately
- The study estimates 94 to 150 million metric tons CO2e are missing globally each year
- Researchers say better accounting is needed for public reporting and mitigation planning
- Wastewater systems remain a major source of methane and nitrous oxide
Quick Facts
- What: Found wastewater emissions are systematically underestimated
- Where: Across 38 countries on five continents
- Why: Outdated reporting methods miss key wastewater sources
- Who: Princeton researchers led by Z Jason Ren
- When: Published February 11 in Nature Climate Change
Coverage Timeline: 3 Days
Featured Article
Princeton researchers report on February 11 that wastewater emission inventories underestimate methane and nitrous oxide by 19 to 27 percent across 38 countries.
Additional Articles
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Princeton researchers report in 2026 that 38 countries underestimate wastewater emissions by 19 to 27 percent due to outdated guidance.
Princeton researchers reveal global underestimation of wastewater greenhouse gas emissions in a recent Nature Climate Change study across 38 countries.
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Researchers assess wastewater emissions across 38 countries and find substantial underreporting in national inventories, prompting calls for revised IPCC methods.