Greenhouse gas emissions are at their highest levels, 2024 is on track to be the warmest on record and we’ve seen countless deadly climate impacts – from wildfires that gut forests to floods that wash away homes, property and people.
As I said at the launch of UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report, climate crunch time is here.
So, we know the next round of climate pledges under the Paris Agreement must dramatically and quickly slash greenhouse gas emissions to avoid overshooting 1.5°C. Action to reduce methane emissions must play a strong role in this process.
Under the Global Methane Pledge, nations have promised to cut emissions by at least 30 per cent by 2030. But as we know, commitments are nothing without action. This new report by UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory shows that while data-driven tools are ready, governments and companies must engage at scale to translate insights into climate action.
Through its Methane Alert and Response System, the observatory has issued over 1,200 notifications about major methane plumes over the last two years. When action is taken, the results are fast and impactful. In Algeria and Nigeria, two leaks were plugged after notifications were received. The relatively simple fixes have led to avoided annual emissions equivalent to around one million cars being taken off the road. From two leaks.
When we consider that only around one per cent of the notifications resulted in a response, you don’t need to be a math genius to calculate the significant potential for big wins.
We have a proven system to identify major methane leaks so they can be quickly stopped – often with simple repairs. We’re quite literally talking about screwing bolts tighter or replacing filters in some cases.
Governments and oil and gas companies must stop paying lip-service to this challenge when answers are staring them in the face. Instead, they should recognise the significant opportunity the system presents and start responding to alerts by plugging leaks that are spewing climate-warming methane into the atmosphere.
But we need more credible data to guide systemic change across fossil fuel sectors, backed with the right policy and legal enabling environment so that action follows.
UNEP’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 saw its membership rise to 140 companies, covering more than 40 per cent of global production.
Many of these companies have now reached the highest standards of reporting on their emissions. But we need more data to drive impactful, targeted action, which is why the launch of the Eye on Methane data platform is so important. And we need to look at other methane sources, in waste, in agriculture and in steel production.
Cutting methane emissions is one of the simplest and fastest-acting ways to slow global temperature rise, buy time for decarbonization to happen and take effect, and reduce the need for expensive adaptation efforts.
With 1.5°C now hanging by a thread, governments and the private sector must turn the screw on methane emissions. Now.
