According to the IEA’s Global Tracker report, the fossil fuel sector accounts for nearly one-third of global methane emissions from human activity today.
The Tracker shows that record global production of oil, gas and coal, along with limited mitigation efforts to date, have kept methane emissions from the energy sector worldwide above 120 million tonnes annually. Very large leaks from oil and gas facilities detected by satellites rose to a record high in 2024.
Key findings of the report
- Energy-related methane emissions have still not reached a definitive peak
- Methane emissions are widely underreported
- Methane data is improving, but more progress on abatement is possible even with an imperfect understanding of emissions levels
- Satellites are providing new insights into the scale and nature of methane emissions
- Methane pledges cover around 80% of global oil and gas production, but implementation remains weak
- A concerted effort to limit methane emissions could make nearly 100 billion cubic metres of natural gas available to markets
- Rapid and sustained reductions in methane emissions are essential for limiting global warming
- Around 70% of methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector could be avoided with existing technologies, often at a low cost
- Methane abatement options in oil and gas can deliver very high rates of return
- Abandoned facilities emit more methane than some of the largest fossil fuel producers
- The lack of access to clean cooking is a leading cause of premature death worldwide and a major cause of methane emissions
- Nearly all of the natural gas consumed today produces fewer lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than coal
IEA analysis suggests that the energy sector was responsible for around 145 Mt of methane emissions in 2024 – more than 35% of the total amount attributable to human activity. Oil operations were responsible for around 45 Mt, natural gas operations for nearly 35 Mt, and abandoned wells for around 3 Mt. An additional 2 Mt of methane leaked from end-use equipment.
Coal accounted for more than 40 Mt, including over 4 Mt from abandoned mines, plus around 1 Mt from end-use equipment. Around 18 Mt came from the incomplete combustion of bioenergy, mostly from the traditional use of biomass, and another 2 Mt from modern bioenergy production.
Furthermore, fossil fuels generate emissions across the supply chain. These can stem from intentional releases, often due to the design of the facility or equipment (e.g. tanks that vent to the atmosphere), operational requirements (e.g. venting a pipeline for inspection and maintenance) or occur for safety reasons (e.g. ventilation systems at coal mines). They can also result from unintentional leaks – due to a faulty seal or leaking valve, for example, or from the incomplete combustion of natural gas (e.g. at flares).
In the oil and gas industry, upstream operations account for nearly 85% of methane emissions, with gas transportation and other downstream operations responsible for the remaining 15%.
Upstream sources include all emissions from production, gathering and processing at both onshore and offshore facilities. Most downstream emissions come from gas transportation, including emissions from transmission and distribution via pipelines or as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and regasification. Other downstream sources include storage, refining and oil transport.
Recent changes in methane policies and regulations
A number of countries have recently introduced new measures on methane emissions:
- Canada issued draft regulations to establish a national cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sector. These regulations are expected to further incentivise Canadian oil and gas operators to cut their methane emissions.
- China established a new air pollution standard for coalbed methane, requiring coal mine operators to capture gas that has a methane concentration of 8% or higher and a flow rate of 10 m³/min or more. This gas must be utilised or stored in gas tanks. If the gas cannot be utilised or stored, it must be destroyed.
- Brazil issued guidelines through its National Energy Policy Council that promote the decarbonisation of oil and gas activities, including minimising flaring and eliminating routine flaring. The guidelines also call for measures to reduce methane leaks from oil and gas operations.
- Kazakhstan is developing regulations to reduce methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector, including by eliminating non-emergency methane venting, requiring leak detection and repair (LDAR), and establishing a measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification (MMRV) framework.
- The European Union adopted its Methane Regulation on emissions reduction in the energy sector, which includes mandatory MMRV requirements for emissions at the source level, both for operated assets as well as non-operated assets.
- In the United States, a reconsideration of methane rules issued under the previous administration has been announced. Congress has also overturned a rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that implemented the “Waste Emissions Charge” mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Nearly 100 countries have completed or are developing national methane action plans. This includes 37 countries that are being supported by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) through participation in the CCAC’s Methane Roadmap Action Programme.
Tackling methane leaks and flaring offers a double dividend: it alleviates pressure on tight gas markets in many parts of the world, enhancing energy security – and lowers emissions at the same time
…said Fatih Birol, Executive Director, IEA.
