EU Industry Increases Methane Alert Responses but Action Lags

Governments and industries have increased their responses to satellite-based methane alerts from 1% to 12% over the past year, according to a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). However, UNEP warned that faster action is needed to meet the Global Methane Pledge goal of reducing methane emissions by 30% by 2030 and to curb global temperature rise.

The findings were released in An Eye on Methane: From Measurement to Momentum, the fifth edition of UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) report. The study highlights that oil and gas companies participating in IMEO’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0) are now equipped to monitor one-third of global production emissions through real-time measurement.

Although responses to IMEO’s Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) increased tenfold in the past year, nearly 90% of alerts remain unanswered. MARS has issued more than 3,500 methane emission alerts across 33 countries, based on satellite monitoring and artificial intelligence analysis. Since its 2022 launch, the system has documented 25 mitigation actions in 10 countries, with six new countries taking steps during the past year.

“Methane reductions can rapidly bend the curve of global warming, buying time for long-term decarbonization efforts. Progress in reporting must translate into emissions reductions. All companies should join the OGMP 2.0, and governments and operators must respond to satellite alerts and act to reduce emissions,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UNEP.

Methane remains the second largest driver of climate change after carbon dioxide, accounting for about one-third of global warming. The OGMP 2.0 has become the global standard for methane measurement and mitigation in the oil and gas sector and serves as the basis for the European Union’s methane regulations.

The OGMP 2.0 membership has more than doubled in five years, reaching 153 companies across multiple countries that together represent 42% of global oil and gas production. One-third of total production is now reporting, or will soon report, emissions data under the OGMP 2.0 “Gold Standard,” which uses direct and verified measurement.

Of those, 65 companies, representing 17% of global production, have achieved the Gold Standard, while 50 more companies, representing another 15%, are on track to reach it. Twenty-two companies have submitted emissions data but have not yet met the standard’s requirements.

The IMEO is broadening its focus to other major methane sources. The MARS system is being expanded to cover coal mines and waste sites, sectors where measurement remains limited but mitigation opportunities are significant. Additionally, IMEO is advancing its Steel Methane Programme, which targets methane emissions from metallurgical coal used in steel production. Although this contributes roughly one-quarter of the steel industry’s climate footprint, these emissions can be mitigated at about 1% of the total production cost. The initiative will introduce the Methane Transparency Database for Steel, combining field studies, satellite data, and industry partnerships to improve accountability.

Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, said Europe’s methane regulation reflects a commitment to emissions reduction through credible data and transparency. “Market operators increasingly seek cleaner fuels, and verifiable data on emissions is key. UNEP’s IMEO provides reliable information to establish standards and partnerships that make accountability a global practice in energy supply chains,” he said.