Global methane emissions continue to rise at a concerning rate, according to a United Nations Environment Programme report released during the U.N. climate summit. Despite efforts by over half of the world’s countries, the emissions increase was highlighted in the first global assessment of the Global Methane Pledge, initiated by the U.S. and European Union at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow in 2021.
Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is the second-largest contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide. The U.S. remains part of the non-binding pledge, though methane regulations were previously rolled back under former President Donald Trump.
Reducing methane emissions is seen as an effective way to combat climate change, given its shorter atmospheric lifespan of 12 years compared to carbon dioxide. Key sources of methane include agriculture, oil and gas infrastructure, and landfills.
The pledge aims to cut global methane emissions from human activity by at least 30% by 2030, relative to 2020 levels. However, emissions are projected to rise 5% by the end of the decade. If current commitments are met, a decrease of only 8% is expected by 2030, falling short of the target. Major emitters like China, India, and Russia have not joined the pledge.
The report was discussed as global leaders convened for the COP30 talks in Belém, Brazil. Martina Otto, head of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, stressed the urgency for faster action.
The projected 5% increase in global methane emissions by 2030 could lead to significant climate damage, including 24,000 premature deaths and 2.5 million metric tons of crop losses annually. The economic impact could reach $43 billion per year by 2030.
Methane emissions are expected to rise most significantly in the agricultural and waste sectors, driven by growing livestock herds and waste from expanding populations and economic growth. Regulations in Europe and North America, along with slow growth in natural gas markets, have moderated human-caused emissions increases.
The energy sector presents opportunities for low-cost methane emission reductions, as methane forms the main component of natural gas.
Natural methane releases from wetlands and melting permafrost are increasing as the planet warms, suggesting greater reductions in human activity emissions might be necessary.
U.S. regulations in 2023, led by the Environmental Protection Agency, aimed to cut emissions from the oil and gas sector by nearly 80%, with further measures introduced by the Biden administration in 2024 to exceed the 30% target by the Global Methane Pledge.
However, under Trump, the U.S. withdrew from the Paris Agreement and repealed the methane fee. In 2025, the EPA extended deadlines for the oil and gas sector to limit emissions.
U.S. officials are urging Europe to relax its environmental regulations, which could hinder U.S. liquified natural gas exports. The EU Methane Regulation mandates that energy imports meet methane emission thresholds by 2030.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum have been lobbying in Europe against these regulations, arguing they increase costs and slow investment. Following these diplomatic efforts, the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change urged the European Commission to uphold the regulation.
Cutting methane is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to address climate change. Martina Otto of the U.N. initiative emphasized its importance for cleaner air, stronger communities, and a safer climate future.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org