Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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October 22, 2025 Climate and environment
Countries must accelerate action to minimize global temperature rise and reduce methane emissions. Otherwise, the Global Methane Agreement's target of reducing methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030 will not be achieved, according to a new report from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Methane remains the second most significant contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide, accounting for 30 percent of global warming.
Observational data is a vital tool
A critical tool for tracking methane emissions is real-world data, which has historically been underreported. UNEP reports that oil and gas companies—participants in the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0), created under the organization's auspices—plan to track a third of global methane emissions using real-world measurements.
“Reducing methane emissions can quickly change the trajectory of global warming, buying time for long-term decarbonisation efforts, so it is encouraging that data-driven tools are helping the oil and gas industry report its emissions and set ambitious reduction targets,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.
Reaction to warnings
UNEP notes that while in 2024 only one percent of recipients (governments and companies) responded to methane emission warnings recorded by UNEP, this figure has risen to 12 percent this year. However, nearly 90 percent of such warnings remain unanswered.
"To maintain the ability to meet the Paris Agreement's goals, progress in reporting must translate into real emissions reductions. Every company must join the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0, and governments and operators are obligated to respond to satellite warnings—and then take action to reduce emissions," Andersen emphasized.
Transparency in the industry is growing, but concrete action is needed
OGMP 2.0 is the global standard for measuring and reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector and serves as the basis for methane legislation in the world's largest consuming market – the European Union.
Over the past five years, the number of OGMP 2.0 participants has more than doubled. The partnership now includes 153 companies from various countries, representing 42 percent of global oil and gas production.
Today, companies report—or will soon report—one-third of global oil and gas production in accordance with the OGMP 2.0 "Gold Standard," which means emissions are tracked based on actual measurements. This allows not only for effective measurement but also for emission reduction.
Sixty-five companies, representing 17 percent of global oil and gas production, have already achieved the Gold Standard. About 50 companies, representing another 15 percent of global production, are on track to achieve full compliance. Another 22 companies provide emissions data, but their reporting does not yet meet the Gold Standard requirements.
UNEP expands support for companies
UNEP's International Methane Observatory is expanding its Steel Methane Programme, which will, among other things, improve transparency in the sector.
As part of the observatory, UNEP also supported 46 scientific studies on methane across six continents. These studies filled knowledge gaps, including by testing new technologies for measuring emissions at oil and gas facilities and quantifying emissions in coking coal mining regions. The international observatory is also developing estimates of methane emissions from rice cultivation and livestock farming.
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