A recent United Nations report reveals that global efforts to curb methane emissions are dangerously off track, jeopardizing critical environmental goals for the end of the decade.
Back then, more than 100 nations committed to a substantial 30% reduction in global methane emissions by 2030. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, originates from fossil fuel operations, poorly managed landfills, and agricultural practices. Over a 20-year span, it traps heat up to 80 times more effectively than carbon dioxide, contributing to about one-third of our planet’s overall warming.
While the world has historically relied on estimations, precise, real-world measurements are crucial for tackling this challenge, according to Giulia Ferrini. She heads the U.N. Environment Program’s International Methane Emissions Observatory, an initiative overseeing multiple programs aimed at monitoring and achieving global targets.
Annually, the oil, gas, and coal sectors alone release approximately 120 million metric tons of methane, accounting for roughly a third of the world’s total emissions, as reported by the International Energy Agency.
One innovative U.N. program leverages satellite technology to pinpoint methane leaks across numerous countries. To date, it has identified over 14,000 “plumes” of methane and issued thousands of pollution alerts to the entities responsible for these leaks.
Meghan Demeter, the program manager, noted significant progress compared to the previous year. However, a considerable gap remains: only 25 instances throughout the program’s history have seen operators respond to an alert by successfully sealing a leak. Alarmingly, in 2025, almost 88% of the agency’s warnings were ignored.
While satellites are highly effective at detecting major methane leaks, Ms. Demeter explained that most emissions originate from sources too tiny for current satellite technology to spot.
The United States, under President Trump, has stepped back from global climate accords, with his administration proposing to eliminate pollution reporting mandates. Furthermore, Congress recently abandoned proposals to introduce taxes on methane emissions.
The U.N.’s monitoring relies on data from more than a dozen satellites operated by various nations, including the U.S., to track methane releases from orbit.
Adding to these concerns, the Trump administration has hinted at decommissioning satellites designed to monitor greenhouse gases and proposed cuts exceeding a billion dollars from vital Earth observation programs at agencies like NOAA and NASA.
A recent setback saw an environmental nonprofit’s MethaneSAT craft, intended for methane tracking, lost during its mission. Nevertheless, other organizations like Carbon Mapper continue to utilize satellites to identify methane plumes and alert facility operators.
The U.N. also fosters a partnership with oil and gas companies, encouraging them to measure and report their emissions. To date, 154 companies have joined, collectively accounting for approximately 42% of global oil and gas output.
In 2025, these participating companies reported around 2.5 million tons of methane, an increase from the previous year. However, this figure still falls tens of millions of tons short of estimated global emissions.
The U.N. report, released Wednesday, states that less than 20% of enrolled companies currently achieve the “gold standard” for emissions reporting, with another 15% expected to reach this benchmark in the coming years.
Deborah Gordon, who leads the oil and gas solutions initiative at the RMI research nonprofit, explains that many energy companies are motivated to participate in these programs because it aligns with their “economic best interest.”
With the global increase in reliance on natural gas (primarily methane) as an energy source, joining efforts to prevent leaks is a natural step for companies focused on maximizing gas profits, Ms. Gordon noted. “Gas can’t be both a valuable commodity and simultaneously wasted,” she emphasized. Yet, addressing leaks can be labor-intensive, and various factors deter companies from fully reporting emissions. These include prioritizing oil extraction, lacking sales channels for their gas, or insufficient data, technology, or financial incentive to identify and repair leaks.
Ms. Ferrini highlighted that governmental and investor pressure significantly boosts companies’ motivation to act, concluding, “Ultimately, it boils down to political will.”
Notably, some of the world’s largest oil and gas producers, including state-owned giants like Mexico’s Pemex, China’s Sinopec, and Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Aramco, do not report their emissions to the U.N. agency.
The United States holds one of the planet’s most significant methane footprints. Despite the shifting political landscape, Ms. Ferrini confirmed that major U.S. companies such as Exxon Mobil and Chevron have maintained their participation in the program.
Ms. Ferrini explained that the U.N. initiatives initially concentrated on oil and gas emissions due to the immediate availability of cost-effective and proven solutions. Future plans include expanding monitoring to other significant sources, such as coal, landfills, and wastewater.
She added that each industry demands a tailored strategy. Agriculture, for example, contributes 40% of human-generated methane. “It’s arguably much simpler to engage hundreds of large oil and gas corporations than to reach thousands of individual smallholder farmers,” Ms. Ferrini stated.
Approximately 40% of atmospheric methane originates from natural processes, such as decaying plant matter in wetlands. As global temperatures rise and Arctic soils thaw, these natural emissions are observed to be increasing.