The fossil fuel sector in Central and South America emitted around 8 Mt of methane in 2024, about 45% of which were from oil and gas facilities in Venezuela. Oil and gas facilities are the main sources of methane emissions in Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil, and coal mines are the largest source in Colombia.

The upstream methane emissions intensity of oil and gas operations in Venezuela is six times the global average, and its flaring intensity is ten times the global average. Operations in Argentina and Ecuador are around twice the global average, while Brazil and Colombia perform slightly below the global average. Little measurement data is available across countries in Central and South America, with large parts of its oil and gas production in offshore or cloud-covered regions, where satellites struggle to make regular observations. UNEP’s IMEO is currently conducting a study on the sources of methane emissions in Colombia and the CCAC is supporting efforts to strengthen monitoring, reporting and verification in its mining sector.

Apart from Venezuela, all major producers in the region have signed the Global Methane Pledge. Yet Colombia is the only country with an explicit strategy for reducing methane emissions and regulations in place to limit methane emissions from oil and gas operations (including restrictions on flaring and venting, requiring biannual LDAR and setting technology standards). Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador have policies to restrict flaring, although these have had mixed success. From 2013 to 2023, flared volumes fell by 10% in Brazil, but they increased by around 60% in Argentina and nearly doubled in Ecuador. 

Stopping all non-emergency flaring and venting is the single-most effective policy measure for reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector. Many use cases exist for the natural gas that is currently flared, including delivering it to consumers via gas networks or as CNG or LNG; using it to generate electricity near oil and gas sites; or reinjecting it to help maintain reservoir pressure.

Under the Stated Policies Scenario, fossil fuel methane emissions in the region fall by around 15% by 2030 and by 25% by 2035. In the Announced Pledges Scenario, these emissions fall by about 45% by 2030 and by 60% by 2035, reflecting additional measures taken by countries and companies to deliver on existing pledges such as the World Bank Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative or the Global Methane Pledge, and near zero upstream methane targets set as part of the OGDC or the OGMP 2.0. In the NZE Scenario, fossil fuel methane emissions in the region fall by around 75% by 2030 and by 85% by 2035, with comprehensive action to deploy all methane abatement measures in the industry.

China is the world’s largest emitter of methane and coal mines are its main source of energy-sector methane emissions. China produces and consumes more than half the global supply of coal. Emissions have risen in tandem with growing energy demand and fossil fuel production. In 2024, the fossil fuel sector in China emitted nearly 25 Mt of methane, of which around 20 Mt came from coal mines (including abandoned underground mines that can continue emitting methane for years after closure).

Oil and gas operations in China have a lower upstream methane intensity than the global average, while the country’s coal mines perform close to the average. Deep mines that produce coking coal are linked to higher intensities and present key opportunities for abatement.

China is also the world’s largest importer of oil, gas and coal and annual methane emissions from its fossil fuel imports are estimated to be around 10 Mt. Most of these emissions are associated with imports of crude oil from Russia and the Middle East.

China does not participate in the Global Methane Pledge but it has an action plan to cut methane emissions. This includes a target of 6 billion cubic metres (bcm) of coal mine gas use annually and prioritises methane recovery in the oil and gas sector through measures such as leak detection and repair requirements (LDAR), and limits on flaring. China’s action plan also highlights methane monitoring, reporting and verification systems.

China has introduced several policies and regulations for controlling fossil fuel methane emissions. In the coal sector, there is an emissions standard requiring gas utilisation in mines with methane concentrations and volumes above defined thresholds. Oil and gas operators are subject to limits on flaring and venting.

PetroChina participates in the OGDC, and China Gas Holdings Limited is a member of OGMP 2.0. Several Chinese oil and gas companies have also set up a Methane Control Alliance to promote the sharing of technology and expertise to reduce emissions.

Under the Stated Policies Scenario, fossil fuel methane emissions in China fall by nearly 15% by 2030 and by around 30% by 2035 due to a peak in fossil fuel production and the deployment of abatement measures. In the Announced Pledges Scenario, emissions fall by close to 30% by 2030 and by nearly 60% by 2035, resulting from the implementation of the national methane action plan and from actions by companies to meet their own emissions targets. In the NZE Scenario, fossil fuel methane emissions in China fall by 80% by 2030 and by 90% by 2035. 

The fossil fuel sector in the Eurasian region was responsible for 22 Mt of methane emissions in 2024. More than 60% of these emissions originated in Russia, where the oil and gas sector released nearly 10 Mt and coal mines 4 Mt of methane.

Oil and gas upstream methane intensities are high in most countries, with Turkmenistan having the second highest intensity in the world. Azerbaijan is the only producer in the region that has a lower intensity than the global average. Emissions events large enough to be detected by satellites are common in Turkmenistan, representing around one-third of all observations from the Methane Alert and Response System. While satellite coverage is very limited in Russia – due to ice and snow and prolonged periods of limited daylight – around 90 plumes were observed over Russian territory in 2024. 

All major emitters in Eurasia participate in the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative. Russia is the only producer that is not part of the Global Methane Pledge. None of the Eurasian countries have established methane reduction targets or published action plans to cut fossil fuel methane emissions. However, as part of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, Azerbaijan mentions the prevention of losses in the energy sector and Turkmenistan mentions the prevention of methane leaks in the oil and gas sector. Uzbekistan’s NDC attributes its declining greenhouse gas emissions between 2010 and 2017 to reductions in fugitive methane from oil and gas activity.

Few countries in Eurasia directly regulate methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry. Russia and Kazakhstan impose financial penalties on methane emitters, but these are quite low and exemptions apply. Monitoring is also not based on reliable measurements, further limiting their effectiveness. So far, there is no evidence that these charges have led to measurable methane reductions.

Many national oil companies from the region participate in the OGDC, including SOCAR (Azerbaijan), KazMunayGas (Kazakhstan) and Uzbekneftegaz (Uzbekistan).

Around 45% of the Eurasian oil and gas methane emissions in 2024 could have been avoided through measures that would have ultimately paid for themselves. Leak detection and repair (LDAR) is the single-most effective measure for reducing fossil fuel methane in the region and it is highly cost-effective: 95% of the emissions savings from LDAR would have come at no net cost to operators. This includes abatement related to rapid-response systems for addressing large emissions events detected by satellite.

Under the Stated Policies Scenario, Eurasian fossil fuel methane emissions fall by 15% by 2030 and by 20% by 2035. In the Announced Pledges Scenario, emissions fall by 40% by 2030 and by 50% by 2035, a result of increased efforts to meet the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative and the Global Methane Pledge as well as actions taken by signatories of the OGDC. In the NZE Scenario, fossil fuel methane emissions in the region fall by 75% by 2030 and by 85% by 2035. 

Most of the methane emissions from fossil fuels used in Europe are tied to imports. In 2024, methane emissions from the supply chain for oil, gas and coal imports are estimated to be around 6 Mt, nearly four times the emissions that occur within Europe from its fossil fuel sector.

Around 55% of the fossil fuel methane emissions that occur within Europe come from the oil and gas sector, mostly from downstream operations, and 45% come from coal mines, mainly in Poland and Ukraine. Upstream oil and gas operations are responsible for the majority of emissions in Romania and the United Kingdom. Norway and the Netherlands have the lowest upstream intensities in the world, while most other countries in the region perform near the global average. 

All major producers in Europe have signed the Global Methane Pledge. The European Union Methane Regulation, adopted in 2024, sets a series of measures for the fossil fuel sector. This includes measurement, reporting and verification requirements, a ban on routine flaring and venting, leak detection and repair (LDAR) mandates for all oil and gas facilities and limits to venting in thermal coal mines. It also calls for mitigation plans for abandoned facilities.

The regulation also requires that natural gas, oil and coal imported into the European Union under contracts concluded after January 2027 meet reporting requirements equivalent to those for domestic sources. It further references a methane intensity standard for new contracts from 2030. In 2024, the European Union also announced a Methane Abatement Partnership Roadmap, with a blueprint for cooperation between fossil fuel importing and exporting countries to reduce methane emissions.

Under the Stated Policies Scenario, domestic fossil fuel methane emissions fall by 35% by 2030 and by 45% by 2035. In the Announced Pledges Scenario, they fall by around 60% by 2030 and by more than 70% by 2035, reflecting additional measures to meet climate targets. In the NZE Scenario, fossil fuel methane emissions in the region fall by 75% by 2030 and by nearly 90% by 2035, with comprehensive action to deploy all methane abatement measures in the industry alongside large reductions in consumption. 

Fossil fuel operations in the Middle East and North Africa emitted around 20 Mt of methane in 2024, nearly all which came from oil and gas activity. Flaring is a leading source of emissions, accounting for around 25% of the total. Performance varies widely, with Libya, Algeria and Iran having upstream methane intensities that are two- to six-times higher than Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates – all of which perform better than the global industry average. 

Emissions events large enough to be detectable by satellite are common in the Middle East and North Africa, representing around 30% of all observations from the Methane Alert and Response System. The region’s geography, with minimal cloud cover and open landscapes, ensures good satellite coverage. Satellites made more than 800 methane emission observations over Algeria, 400 in Iran, and 165 in Iraq. A satellite campaign supported by the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative with data from GHGSat studied 12 facilities and identified incomplete combustion from burning pits as the leading source of emissions in Algeria and Egypt, followed by gas lift system vents and equipment venting. A previous campaign in Iraq found flaring and direct venting as major sources.

All countries in the region participate in the Global Methane Pledge except for Algeria, Iran and Syria. Many also take part in the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative. However fewer countries have developed regulations focused on limiting oil and gas methane emissions. Qatar has technology standards, as does Kuwait, which also requires leak detection and repair in the upstream sector. Egypt and Iraq have announced that they are currently working on developing new regulations. The IEA is working alongside the Clean Air Task Force and CCAC to support Iraq’s oil and gas mitigation efforts.

Flaring and venting restrictions are common in most countries, but flared volumes have increased by over 50% since 2010. Many of the region’s national oil companies have joined the OGDC or OGMP 2.0, including ADNOC (United Arab Emirates), the National Oil Corporation (NOC) of Libya, Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia), Bapco Energies (Bahrain) and Petroleum Development Oman.

Three countries – Iraq, Iran and Algeria – that together produce around 10% of the world’s oil account for more than 30% of the flared volumes and related methane emissions. Most flares in these countries operate on a continuous basis and many are located within 20 km of existing gas pipelines.

Under the Stated Policies Scenario, fossil fuel methane emissions in the Middle East and North Africa fall by 20% by 2030 and by 30% by 2035. In the Announced Pledges Scenario, emissions fall by 50% by 2030 and by 60% by 2035, as a result of stronger regulations to meet methane pledges and company action to achieve their near-zero upstream targets (around 60% of the oil and gas production in the region is covered by such targets). In the NZE Scenario, fossil fuel methane emissions in the region fall by 80% by 2030 and by 90% by 2035. 

North America’s fossil fuel sector emitted more than 23 Mt of methane in 2024, of which roughly 85% came from the United States. Unconventional oil and gas production alone accounted for 12 Mt. Major sources of emissions include tanks that vent to the atmosphere, leaks and natural gas-driven pneumatic devices that release methane during normal operations.

Canada has the lowest upstream methane intensity in the region, while the United States and Mexico perform close to the global average. Airborne measurements indicate that intensities in the United States can vary by an order of magnitude between producing basins. The Methane Alert and Response System has to date tracked more than 700 super-emitting events in the United States – representing almost 10% of the world’s total – with around 260 events classified as “actionable” (i.e. an emissions source was identified and could still be emitting).

While the United States has recently removed some of its regulations on methane, some policies and support for emissions reduction remain at the federal- (e.g. funding for research and development) and state-level (e.g. flaring restrictions). Canada has set venting limits and LDAR requirements, as well as an ambitious methane strategy that aims for a 75% reduction in emissions by 2030. Mexico introduced standards for the use of associated natural gas and established comprehensive guidelines for controlling methane emissions.

In the Stated Policies Scenario, methane emissions from the North American fossil fuel sector fall by around 40% by 2030 and then plateau to 2035. In the Announced Pledges Scenario, emissions fall by 70% by 2030 and by 80% by 2035, mainly as a result of national methane commitments and additional measures assumed to be taken by companies to deliver on pledges made as part of the OGDC and OGMP 2.0. Most of the major companies active in North America, as well as a number of smaller independent operators, participate in these initiatives. In the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 (NZE) Scenario, methane emissions from fossil fuel operations in the region fall by 75% by 2030 and by 85% by 2035.

The fossil fuel sector in South and Southeast Asia was responsible for around 10 Mt of methane emissions in 2024, half of which came from coal mines and half from the oil and gas sector. India and Indonesia were the largest emitters. Methane emissions in the region have been increasing in recent years, alongside rising energy demand and production of fossil fuels. India plans to double its coal output by 2030.

Oil and gas upstream methane intensities are high in most South and Southeast Asian countries, with the exception of Malaysia and Viet Nam, where operations are concentrated offshore and there is growing attention to curbing methane. In India and Pakistan, intensities are roughly double the global industry average. Most of the coal production in India and Indonesia comes from surface mines, where abatement options are more limited.

All major emitters in the region participate in the Global Methane Pledge except for India and Thailand – though Thailand has identified some opportunities for lowering methane emissions, such as minimising fugitive emissions from oil and gas activity.

Bangladesh and Viet Nam have developed action plans to tackle methane emissions with quantified reduction targets. Viet Nam’s plan encourages the collection of associated gas from oil operations, investment in leak detection and repair (LDAR), and methane drainage and recovery before and during underground coal mining. Viet Nam also has a policy that includes provisions on emissions monitoring and reporting. Bangladesh’s methane emissions reduction plan refers to reducing leaks and recovering vented associated gas. Indonesia has a rule to increase the utilisation of associated gas. Many national oil companies from the region participate in the OGDC, including ONGC (India), PETRONAS (Malaysia), Pertamina (Indonesia), PPL (Pakistan) and PTTEP (Thailand).

Under the Stated Policies Scenario, fossil fuel methane emissions in South and Southeast Asia fall by nearly 15% by 2030 and by just over 20% by 2035. In the Announced Pledges Scenario, emissions fall by around 35% by 2030 and by more than 45% by 2035, resulting from greater efforts to meet the Global Methane Pledge and from company action to reach near-zero upstream targets (around 65% of oil and gas production in the region is covered by these targets). In the NZE Scenario, fossil fuel methane emissions in the region fall by 65% by 2030 and by 85% by 2035. 

In 2024, fossil fuel operations within sub-Saharan African countries emitted around 6 Mt of methane, of which around 70% came from oil and gas operations and the remainder from coal mines (mainly from South Africa). Fossil fuel methane emissions in the region have been falling in recent years, following decreases in oil and gas activity in Nigeria, which is the top emitter in the region. Emissions from the traditional use of biomass account for around 20% of energy-related methane in the region.

Oil and gas upstream methane intensities are high in many major producers. In Nigeria, Congo and Gabon, intensities are about double the global industry average. Several countries have the potential to increase production significantly in the coming years, including Mozambique and Senegal.

With the exception of South Africa, all major emitters in the region participate in the Global Methane Pledge. Many also take part in the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative, including Angola, Nigeria and Gabon, and some countries have developed action plans to tackle methane emissions, including Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo. Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria have also established targets for methane emissions reduction.

Nigeria is the only country in the region that has developed a set of methane regulations specifically for the oil and gas sector. These include emissions and equipment standards, LDAR requirements, a tax on flaring and measurement and reporting obligations. Its current NDC commits to reducing fugitive methane emissions from oil and gas operations by 60% by 2031. Several other countries in the region also limit flaring, including Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Many national oil companies (NOCs) participate in the OGDC, including NNPC (Nigeria), Sonangol (Angola), NILEPET (South Sudan) and NAMCOR (Namibia).

Under the Stated Policies Scenario, fossil fuel methane emissions in the region fall by 35% by 2030 and by 45% by 2035, mainly due to regulations in Nigeria and voluntary action from operators taking advantage of cost-effective abatement options. In the Announced Pledges Scenario, emissions fall by around 65% by 2030 and by nearly 75% by 2035, due to increased efforts to meet the Global Methane Pledge and from company action to reach near-zero upstream targets. In the NZE Scenario, fossil fuel methane emissions in the region fall by 80% by 2030 and by 90% by 2035, due to comprehensive action to deploy all methane abatement measures and a drop in steam coal production in South Africa.