Efforts to reduce methane emissions are not enough

Paris―Decisive, far-reaching efforts to cut methane emissions from fossil fuel production and use must go hand-in-hand with decarbonization of global energy systems to limit global warming to 1.5 °C, a new report said last week.

The report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) found that rapid cuts in methane emissions from fossil fuels could avoid up to 0.1 °C in global temperature rise by mid-century. These are greater than the impact of immediately taking all cars and trucks in the world off the road.

The Imperative of Cutting Methane from Fossil Fuels released last week builds on findings from the IEA’s recently updated net zero pathway to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. It shows that while a drop in fossil fuel demand would cut methane emissions, these reductions by themselves would not occur fast enough to meet the world’s climate goals.

Additional targeted actions to tackle methane emissions from fossil fuel production and use―such as eliminating routine venting and flaring and repairing leaks―are essential to limit warming to 1.5 °C and reduce the risk of crossing irreversible climate tipping points.

As methane emissions lead to ground-level ozone pollution, immediate action would also deliver public health, food security and economic benefits. Based on modeling of the UNEP/CCAC Global Methane Assessment published in 2021, methane action would prevent nearly 1 million premature deaths due to ozone exposure, 90 million tons of crop losses due to ozone and climate changes, and about 85 billion hours of lost labor due to extreme heat by 2050.

This would generate roughly $260 billion in direct economic benefits through 2050.

“Reducing methane emissions from the energy sector is one of the best―and most affordable―opportunities to limit global warming in the near term,” IEA executive director Fatih Birol said. “Early actions by governments and industry to drive down methane emissions need to go hand-in-hand with reductions in fossil fuel demand and CO2 emissions. This report sets out the clear case for strong, swift action.”

“Cutting methane doesn’t