The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has revealed that one-third of methane emissions from global oil and gas production are now being tracked using real-world measurements — a major step toward improving accuracy and accountability in climate action.
According to UNEP’s latest An Eye on Methane: From Measurement to Momentum report released today, member companies of its Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0) are leading the shift toward measurement-based reporting. However, UNEP warns that urgent action is needed to translate this progress into tangible emission cuts and to meet the Global Methane Pledge target of a 30 per cent reduction by 2030.
Methane is the second most significant driver of global warming after carbon dioxide, responsible for nearly one-third of planetary heating. “Reducing methane emissions can quickly bend the curve on global warming,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “But progress on reporting must turn into action. Governments and companies must respond to satellite alerts — and act to cut emissions.”
The OGMP 2.0, the world’s leading methane measurement and mitigation standard, now includes 153 companies covering 42 per cent of global oil and gas output. Of these, 65 companies — representing 17 per cent of production — have achieved the “Gold Standard,” meaning their emissions are tracked through direct measurement. Another 50 companies, covering 15 per cent, are on track to reach this level.
UNEP’s Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) has issued more than 3,500 satellite-based alerts across 33 countries since 2022. While responses to these alerts rose from one per cent last year to 12 per cent in 2024, nearly 90 per cent still go unanswered. The system is now expanding to include methane monitoring in coal mines and waste sites.
In addition, UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) is launching a Steel Methane Programme to address emissions from metallurgical coal used in steelmaking — a source that adds around 25 per cent to steel’s climate footprint but can be mitigated at low cost.
Global leaders praised UNEP’s data-driven approach. Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, said Europe’s new methane regulations “reflect our determination to cut emissions through credible data and transparency.” Japan’s Vice-Minister for International Affairs, Takehiko Matsuo, emphasized the role of technology, adding that “satellite missions like JAXA’s GOSAT-GW will turn space-based observations into mitigation on the ground.”
UNEP’s IMEO has also supported 46 peer-reviewed studies across six continents, closing key data gaps in methane measurement from oil, gas, and metallurgical coal production — and expanding research into emissions from rice cultivation and livestock.
With methane mitigation recognized as one of the fastest ways to slow global warming, UNEP calls for stronger collaboration between governments, industries, and civil society to ensure real-world data leads to real-world action.