Full Breakdown
Methane Emissions Near Record Levels in 2025: A Lifeline for Global Gas
5/5/2026, 12:09:03 PM
Persistently High Methane Emissions in the Energy Sector
The International Energy Agency’s Global Methane Tracker 2026 reports that oil, gas and coal operations emitted 124 million tonnes of methane in 2025—about 35 % of all human-made methane and record levels. Emissions have not fallen despite established mitigation pathways. About 70 % comes from ten countries: China, the United States, Russia, Iran, Turkmenistan, India, Venezuela, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Iraq.
Energy-Security Context of the Middle-East Conflict
The February 2024 war in the Middle East, including Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, cut roughly 20 % of global LNG trade. Higher oil prices have spurred calls to capture gas as a security measure.
Gas Recovery Potential from Methane Abatement
The IEA estimates that simple abatement could free 15 bcm quickly and up to 100 bcm annually from oil- and gas-related leaks. Ending non-emergency flaring could add another 100 bcm, yielding a possible 200 bcm each year—about twice the volume lost to Hormuz. Around 70 % of fossil-fuel methane (?85 Mt) is technically abatable; more than 35 Mt could be captured at no net cost.
Official Statements & Responses
The IEA says “tried-and-tested abatement measures” can address climate and energy security. France, as G7 chair, hosted a summit to speed implementation. EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen said cutting leaks would ease pressure on global markets. British Energy Security Secretary Ed Miliband said reducing methane is among the most effective actions to slow global warming, improve air quality and boost energy security. IEA chief economist Tim Gould warned that targets alone are insufficient without concrete policies.
Criticism & Opposition
The Stop Methane Project shows mega-leaks in Turkmenistan, Texas, Venezuela and Iran, contradicting Turkmen officials’ claim that leaks are fixed within days. The IEA calls this a “large implementation gap” between pledges and results. Former COP26 president Alok Sharma warned that the current trajectory falls far short of the 2030 methane-reduction pledge.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Turkmenistan’s claim of rapid leak repairs conflicts with satellite evidence of continued emissions. The IEA notes that 30-35 % of global emissions arise from developing countries that “are not getting the finance they need,” leaving a financing gap for abatement.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I sincerely hope that the discussions we will have today will enable us to join our forces to accelerate the implementation of effective solutions to reduce methane emissions,” — Monique Barbut, French Ecological Transition Minister
- “Reducing methane emissions remains one of the best things we can do to slow global warming while cleaning up our air, improving public health, and increasing our energy security,” — Ed Miliband, British Secretary of State for Energy Security
- “We could have three times more gas on the market if we eliminated this waste,” — Dan Jorgensen, EU Energy Commissioner
