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yesterday

Global Methane Emissions Remain Stubbornly High Despite Available Solutions

IEA report reveals over 120 million tonnes of methane emissions in 2024, driven by fossil fuel activities, underreported leaks, and abandoned infrastructure.

Flames from a flaring pit near a well in the Bakken Oil Field.
Image
Methane leaks from energy production, transportation infrastructures -- such as gas pipelines -- and from deliberate releases during maintenance
Flares burn off methane and other hydrocarbons at an oil and gas facility in Texas. Canada is seen as a global leader on methane policy, but other countries like U.S. are drawing back on action on the potent greenhouse gas.

Overview

  • The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports 2024 methane emissions from fossil fuels at over 120 million tonnes, near record highs from 2019.
  • Countries are underestimating methane emissions by approximately 80%, with satellite monitoring revealing widespread underreporting and record-high super-emitter events.
  • Abandoned oil wells and coal mines emitted eight million tonnes of methane in 2024, making them the fourth-largest source globally if considered a single emitter.
  • Existing technologies could cut about 70% of methane emissions from the energy sector at low or no net cost, but policy rollbacks and insufficient funding stall progress.
  • The IEA highlights methane mitigation as a critical, cost-effective strategy to slow near-term warming, yet global implementation remains inadequate.