Background information
Methane is responsible for around 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution, and rapid and sustained reductions in methane emissions are key to limiting near-term global warming and improving air quality. The energy sector – including oil, natural gas, coal and bioenergy – accounts for more than 35% of methane emissions from human activity.
The IEA’s annually updated Global Methane Tracker is an indispensable tool in the fight to bring down methane emissions from across the energy sector.
This year’s update provides our latest estimates of emissions from across the sector – drawing on the most recent data and readings from satellites and ground-based measurements – and the costs and opportunities to reduce these emissions. It examines the implications of the agreements regarding on methane reached at the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, tracks the wide range of pledges on methane emissions reductions, highlights progress towards reaching these goals, and explores the investment and financing that are needed. This year's update provides, for the first time, a fully open access model that can be used to explore abatement options for oil and gas operations.