Methane data and transparency continue to improve, but emissions remain far too high

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🗞️ Driving the news: The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global Methane Tracker 2025 reports that despite improvements in data transparency and monitoring, methane emissions from fossil fuels remain persistently high, exceeding 120 million tonnes annually
• The report highlights that cost-effective measures could have brought an additional 100 billion cubic metres of gas to market in 2024, easing global energy pressures while cutting emissions

🔭 The context: Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is responsible for about 30% of the rise in global temperatures since pre-industrial times
• While efforts to monitor and report methane emissions are improving — with over 25 satellites now tracking leaks — actual implementation of mitigation strategies is falling short
• Methane abatement offers a critical near-term opportunity for climate action, but official reporting continues to underestimate real-world emissions levels

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Reducing methane emissions is one of the fastest ways to curb near-term global warming, with many solutions yielding economic benefits by capturing and reselling leaked gas
• Addressing leaks, flaring, and emissions from abandoned wells could prevent a 0.1°C temperature rise by 2050 — a reduction comparable to eliminating emissions from the entire global heavy industry sector
• However, widespread adoption of best practices remains uneven and urgent

⏭️ What's next: Governments and industry are expected to face increasing pressure to close the implementation gap, especially as new methane monitoring technologies expose discrepancies between pledges and action
• Upcoming climate summits and regulatory updates could sharpen focus on methane accountability
• Further investment in abatement technologies and stricter enforcement mechanisms are anticipated to play a growing role in climate and energy security policies

💬 One quote: "Tackling methane leaks and flaring offers a double dividend: it alleviates pressure on tight gas markets and lowers emissions at the same time." — Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA

📈 One stat: Around 70% of methane emissions from the energy sector could be avoided today using existing technologies, many of which are cost-negative within one year

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