By Job Okoth
Global action to cut methane emissions is finally gaining traction, with new data showing a major leap in how governments and industries respond to methane “super-emitter” events. However, this momentum must turn into sustained action to keep the world on track toward climate goals.
A new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO), titled An Eye on Methane: From Measurement to Momentum, shows that response rates to satellite-detected methane leaks have grown tenfold in one year — a sign that awareness and accountability are improving.
According to the report, government and company responses to more than 3,500 alerts from IMEO’s Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) jumped from just one per cent in 2024 to 12 per cent in 2025. These alerts pinpoint major methane leaks using satellite monitoring and AI-supported analysis.
“Methane mitigation is an urgent global challenge, and it begins with accurate, actionable data,” said Shinichi Kihara, Japan’s Vice-Minister for International Affairs at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. “The Government of Japan expects IMEO to contribute to accelerating global action on methane emission reductions through collaboration with governments, industries, and civil society.”
The growing responsiveness marks progress toward achieving the Global Methane Pledge — a joint commitment by over 150 countries to reduce methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. Methane, the second most significant greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, is responsible for about a third of current global warming and has more than 80 times the heat-trapping power of carbon dioxide over two decades.
According to IMEO, data transparency is proving to be a game changer. Its Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0) — the world’s most rigorous methane reporting standard — now covers 42 per cent of global oil and gas production. The partnership has grown from 70 to 153 member companies across 60 countries in five years.
“Reducing methane emissions can quickly bend the curve on global warming,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “It is encouraging that data-driven tools are helping the oil and gas industry to report on their emissions and set ambitious mitigation targets.”
Out of all the companies reporting under OGMP 2.0, 65 firms representing 17 per cent of global oil and gas production have reached the “Gold Standard” — meaning their methane emissions are measured with real-world data instead of estimates. Another 50 companies (15 per cent of global output) are on track to reach that same benchmark soon.
According to IMEO, this improved transparency provides the foundation for strong regulation and market accountability. The European Union, for instance, has used OGMP 2.0 data to shape its new methane regulations, ensuring cleaner imports into the EU market.
“Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases. Tackling it is among the fastest ways to slow global warming,” said Ditte Juul Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing. “Europe’s groundbreaking methane regulation reflects our determination to cut emissions through credible data and transparency.”
The report also highlights how IMEO’s MARS alerts have led to 25 confirmed cases of mitigation action across ten countries since 2022 — including in six new countries within the past year. These range from repairs of leaking infrastructure to improved maintenance protocols by national oil companies.
While 88 per cent of alerts still go unanswered, UNEP says the progress proves that the system works — and that it can be scaled across sectors.
The Observatory is now expanding its focus to steelmaking and waste management, where methane emissions remain largely unmonitored. The Steel Methane Programme targets metallurgical coal — a hidden source of emissions that adds roughly one-quarter to the climate footprint of steel. According to IMEO, these emissions could be mitigated at just one per cent of the cost of steel production.
The programme will soon launch a Steel Methane Transparency Database, combining satellite data, industry reporting, and scientific studies to improve accountability in the steel sector.
Andersen said UNEP’s next phase will focus on transforming this data into action. “Progress on reporting must translate into real cuts to emissions,” she said. “Every company should join OGMP 2.0, and both governments and operators must respond to satellite alerts — then they must act to reduce emissions.”
Since its inception, IMEO has supported 46 peer-reviewed studies across six continents, helping close knowledge gaps and test new methane detection technologies. These findings are now guiding national emission inventories and supporting country-level mitigation plans, including in agriculture and waste management.
For UNEP, these developments show that the solutions are already on the table — it’s now about scaling them up.
“Better data is driving better action,” Andersen said. “We’ve proven what works. Now, the challenge is to make it universal — every leak fixed, every tonne of methane avoided.”
With stronger partnerships, improved transparency, and rapid-response systems like MARS, UNEP says the tools to curb methane are no longer theoretical. What’s working is clear — the next step is ensuring everyone uses it.
