UNEP’s 2025 Methane Report Warns of Rising Global Emissions

A new global assessment by the UN Environment Programme and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition has highlighted critical gaps in methane reduction efforts ahead of the 2030 deadline. Launched during COP30, the Global Methane Status Report 2025 shows that while action has accelerated, current commitments are still insufficient to meet global climate goals.

Rising Emissions and 2030 Targets

Methane levels reached about 352 million tonnes in 2020 and are projected to rise to 369 million tonnes by 2030 under existing policies. Agriculture and waste are expected to drive much of this increase. The target of reducing methane emissions by at least 30 per cent from 2020 levels by 2030 remains at risk without faster action across all major emitting sectors.

Global Commitments and Potential Gains

Since 2021, a growing number of countries have incorporated methane-specific measures into their national climate commitments. If current pledges are fully implemented, emissions could fall by 8 per cent below 2020 levels this decade. UNEP notes that fully deploying feasible measures could reduce emissions by 32 per cent, enough to deliver the Global Methane Pledge.

Exam Oriented Facts

• Methane accounts for nearly one-third of current global warming.
• Global methane emissions were about 352 Mt in 2020.
• Agriculture contributes 42 per cent of global methane emissions.
• Energy-sector mitigation could deliver over 72 per cent of available 2030 reductions.

Sector-Wise Mitigation Opportunities

The energy sector offers the largest and most cost-effective reductions through leak detection, flaring controls, improved distribution networks, and methane capture from fossil fuel operations. Waste-sector actions such as landfill gas capture and organic waste diversion could yield steady long-term gains. Agriculture remains the hardest area to reform, with measures such as feed additives, improved breeding, and better rice-field water management offering substantial but slow-to-adopt benefits.

Need for Better Data and Finance

The report stresses that accurate methane measurement remains uneven, especially in the fossil fuel sector. Improved monitoring systems and transparent data are necessary to guide targeted interventions. Current finance directed at methane reduction remains below requirements, with a large gap between available funds and what is needed to implement mitigation at scale.