UNEP: Is Methane the ‘Emergency Brake’ for Climate Change?

Methane is responsible for nearly a third of current global warming according to the Global Methane Status Report 2025.

Projected 2030 methane emissions are lower than previous forecasts, but the report warns that emissions are still rising. 

It says only full-scale implementation of control measures will close the gap on the Global Methane Pledge’s goals.

Produced by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), the report assesses progress in cutting methane emissions so far.

Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UNEP, says: “Reducing methane emissions is one of the most immediate and effective steps we can take to slow the climate crisis while protecting human health.  

“Reducing methane also reduces crop losses, essential for both agriculture productivity and food security. 

“UNEP is committed to helping countries turn ambition into action to ensure the solutions in this report deliver real benefits for people and the planet.”

Global goals for methane emissions

The Global Methane Pledge is a partnership launched by the US and EU at COP26 to collectively reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels.

More than 150 countries have joined the pledge, representing nearly half of global human-caused methane emissions.

The Pledge is working across six action areas:

• Energy
• Waste
• Food and agriculture
• Plans and policies
• Data
• Finance.

Meeting the Pledge’s goals has the potential to reduce warming by at least 0.2°C by 2050, it says.

The business case for methane reduction

Meeting the goals of the Global Methane Pledge will deliver benefits that exceed US$330bn in value annually, the report says. 

When factoring in the broader social cost of methane, the benefit would be even greater.

It estimates the total annual cost of achieving the full maximum technically feasible reductions (MTFR) at US$127bn.

More than 80% of the MTFR could be implemented for a low annual cost and tackle 109 Mt per year. 

In the waste sector, methane capture and other methods could deliver US$9bn annually through energy savings. 

In the energy sector, the report estimates the combined total annual cost for MFTR measures at US$98bn, equivalent to 2-4% of the sector’s income in 2023, without including environmental benefits. 

Julie Dabrusin, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Co-Convener of the Global Methane Pledge, says: “This report is a crucial assessment of our progress and a key indicator of the work that’s required to meet the Global Methane Pledge goal. 

“In just four years, we have made improvements, but we must continue to drive faster, deeper methane cuts. 

“Every tonne reduced brings us closer to cleaner air, more resilient communities, and a thriving global economy.”

Methane regulatory risks and compliance

Despite more than 150 countries participating in the Global Methane Pledge, just six have adopted quantified methane reduction targets:

• Canada
• Japan
• Norway
• US
• Republic of Moldova
• Vietnam.

Other regions have put rules in place for methane emissions, including the EU Methane Regulation which mandates measurement, reporting and verification alongside leak detection and repair for fossil fuel operations. 

It also introduced the first methane import standard, requiring importers of oil, gas and coal to demonstrate equivalent monitoring standards from 2027. 

Denmark agreed in June 2024 to implement the world’s first carbon tax on agriculture, effective from 2030, that will tax livestock farmers on methane emissions from cows and pigs.

South Korea requires public and private entities to convert organic waste into biogas, aiming for an 80% conversion rate by 2050 to reduce landfill methane.

The US Environmental Protection Agency finalised NSPS OOOOb and EG OOOOc in 2024 to cut methane from oil and gas operations.

However, there have been moves to delay US compliance deadlines and potentially reconsider these regulations.

New Zealand also officially scrapped its world-first plan to price agricultural emissions, the "farm levy", in October 2025.

Julie says: “It is important for all countries that have agreed to the Global Methane Pledge to continue to work closely together to drive momentum on methane mitigation, turning ambition into tangible benefits for the planet.”

The methane funding landscape

It is estimated to cost US$127bn per year to achieve the Global Methane Pledge’s goals.

The report cites Climate Policy Initiative analysis showing an 18% increase to an annual average of US$13.7bn in 2021 and 2022.

Despite improvement, this still leaves a large finance gap. 

Low-cost measures could be implemented at a total annual cost of US$2.5bn, while reducing annual methane emissions by 17 Mt by 2030. 

The report says that this investment amounts to less than 3% of the subsidies governments currently allocate to the sector every year, suggesting future funding could come from repurposed public spending rather than new taxes. 

With full implementation of all technical measures globally, annual methane emissions in 2030 could be reduced by 131 Mt below the current legislation scenario’s 2030 levels.

This would achieve a 32% reduction compared with 2020 emissions levels.

Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, says: “The Global Methane Pledge has transformed ambition into tangible progress. 

“Across sectors and continents, countries and companies are proving that methane reductions are achievable - and deliver cleaner air, stronger economies and a safer climate. 

“Our task now is to scale these solutions rapidly, working together to keep 1.5°C within reach and secure a healthier future for our people and our planet.”