A collection of Ministers at COP30 unveiled a landmark assessment of global methane emissions, acknowledging progress since their 2021 pledge—but warning that ambition and action still lag behind what is needed. The Global Methane Status Report, published by the UN Environment Programme and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, reveals a cautiously optimistic picture: while emissions continue to rise, current legislation has trimmed earlier 2030 forecasts.
Julie Dabrusin, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Co-Convener of the Global Methane Pledge emphasized the importance of the document: “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. 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.”
According to the report, national commitments submitted by mid-2025, including Methane Action Plans, could yield an 8 percent drop in methane emissions by 2030 compared to 2020 levels. But to hit the pledge’s 30 percent reduction target, the report stresses that technically proven measures must be deployed rapidly and at scale.
These include fixing gas leaks, sealing abandoned wells, improving rice paddy water management, and separating and treating organic waste—which together can deliver 80 percent of mitigation potential at low cost.
Ministers at the COP ministerial called for greater transparency and accountability, urging countries to step up implementation, measurement, reporting, and finance. The report underscores that the lion’s share of mitigation potential lies in G20 + economies, accounting for roughly 72 percent of global methane-reduction capacity.
Experts say the timing is critical: methane is short-lived in the atmosphere, so cutting it now offers unusually rapid climate benefits. UNEP’s Inger Andersen noted that curbing methane not only helps slow warming but also protects public health—saving tens of thousands of lives and preserving crops, according to the report.
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