- High-tech Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) provides first public data and proves huge potential for slashing emissions and driving climate action
- 1,500 methane plumes identified in first year, 127 notified to authorities across four continents, and examples of concrete action on the ground
- Number of oil and gas companies committing to credibly measuring and reducing methane emissions doubles to 120, representing nearly 40% of global production
- Work to plug global information gaps includes Methane Supply Index to enable authorities to identify supply footprint, and first methane measuring campaigns in sub-Saharan Africa and The Middle East
Dubai, 1 December 2023: High-tech, accessible and reliable data that informs countries, companies and the public about emissions could revolutionise reporting systems, accelerate climate action, and hold polluters to account, according to a new report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
Released at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, An Eye on Methane: The Road to Radical Transparency highlights how the combination of pioneering technology and the UN’s convening power could plug major methane emissions knowledge gaps and trigger action at the scale and speed needed to fulfill essential climate pledges.
“Because methane is so powerful, but has a far shorter life in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, slashing emissions now is critical for limiting global temperatures within the next decade, and before we cross irreversible global tipping points, to avert climate catastrophe. Without dual action on methane and carbon dioxide, there is no viable path to climate stability,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme.
Launched through UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory last year, the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) puts methane data from satellite into the hands of authorities to limit anthropogenic emissions of a powerful greenhouse gas responsible for a third of today’s global warming.
Global methane emissions must be reduced by 40-45 per cent by 2030 to achieve cost-effective pathways that limit global warming to 1.5°C, according to the CCAC/UNEP Global Methane Assessment.
Historically, available data on methane emissions has largely been based on generic emissions factors that peer-reviewed science has repeatedly proven dramatically underestimate measured levels.
“The EU is a proud supporter of the upcoming methane data revolution. It will certainly accelerate emissions reduction, thanks a to a new generation of satellites combined with the enhanced transparency from companies in monitoring, reporting and abating their emissions”, said Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy.
Atmospheric methane is at its highest level in recorded history, and poses serious threats to air quality and human health. It is the second biggest driver of global warming caused by human activity after carbon dioxide (CO2), and in the near term over 80 times more powerful than CO2.
“Since the launch of the Global Methane Pledge at COP26, we’ve seen incredible developments in tools and technologies that can provide actionable methane data. As their work with the Methane Alert and Response System shows, IMEO is playing a critical role in pulling this data together and putting it in the hands of those in a position to act on it,” said Rick Duke, U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Climate.
The report reveals the first public data from MARS as part of the IMEO Methane Data platform so that methane emission detections, alerts sent to countries or companies about events, and subsequent climate action are accessible to everyone. In its first pilot year focusing primarily on the energy sector, IMEO identified plenty of opportunities for methane emission mitigation and around 1500 plumes of methane and sent MARS notifications across four continents for more than 120 plumes.
Examples of turning satellite data into significant climate action on the ground include an alert to Argentina’s government about a leak at an oil and gas facility. The alert was passed on to the responsible company, which fixed the leak and created a longer-term prevention plan. UNEP provided continued satellite monitoring that confirmed methane emissions at the site had stopped.
UNEP’s IMEO is also supporting the first multi-scale methane measurement campaigns ever conducted in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. It is also developing the methodology for a Methane Supply Index to enable authorities to identify the methane footprint of products sourced from suppliers.
IMEO is expanding its work with countries to produce multi-sector baseline studies designed to provide comprehensive overviews of methane emissions and blueprint methodologies that will decrease scientific and regional knowledge gaps. Beyond this initial release of MARS data on the IMEO Methane Data portal, IMEO will regularly make new data publicly available to continue increasingly accountability and demonstrate the opportunity for methane action.
“Nigeria is proud to partner with UNEP's IMEO and the European Commission on a new project to conduct a baseline measurement study of methane emissions in Nigeria. The data from this campaign will be instrumental in driving Nigeria's action on methane and fulfilling its commitments as a Global Methane Pledge Champion," said H. E. Mr. Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Minister of Environment, Nigeria.
Human activities in agriculture, waste, and fossil fuel sectors account for more than half of global methane emissions. The current rate of human activity could see methane levels rise by up to 13% between 2020 and 2030, when they would need to fall by 30% to 60% over this period to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. Fossil fuel operations would likely need to provide around half of this reduction in methane emissions, and existing, often low-cost technology could be used to reduce more than three-quarters of methane emissions from oil and gas operations, and half of emissions from coal.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About the UN Environment Programme
The UN Environment Programme is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
UNEP is at the forefront of methane emissions reduction in line with the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global temperature rise well below 2°C. UNEP’s work revolves around two pillars: data and policy. UNEP supports companies and governments across the globe to use its unique global database of empirically verified methane emissions to target strategic mitigation actions and support science-based policy options through the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO). UNEP also fosters high-level commitments through advocacy work and supports countries to implement measures that reduce methane emissions through the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). Both initiatives are core implementers of the Global Methane Pledge.
About IMEO
IMEO builds upon the important work of the Methane Initiative by the CCAC, the Global Methane Initiative (GMI), the International Energy Agency (IEA), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), and many others. IMEO was funded to fill the need of comprehensive data collection, as gaps in the data landscape limit the ability to fully understand the scope of the methane emissions problem, and to target strategic mitigation action.
For more information, please contact:
News and Media Unit, UN Environment Programme
