She called on them to collectively mobilize around three priorities: accelerate the reduction of emissions, strengthen measures thanks in particular to new technologies to better identify sources, and deploy “concrete solutions and ambitious regulatory frameworks”, indicated Monday evening the Ministry of Ecological Transition in a communicated.
Among the main announcements of this day of discussions, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) indicated that it would extend its global methane detection system via satellite to emissions from coal mines and waste treatment facilities, and no longer just to those from oil or gas facilities. gas.
Furthermore, the national oil companies of Libya, Pakistan and Angola have declared joining the UNEP program for measuring, reporting and reducing methane emissions, bringing coverage to 50% of global production.
The day was also an opportunity to emphasize that the subject of methane, although “insufficiently covered so far”, is “not (…) anecdotal” and that it is “not only an environmental question, it is also an economic question” and security energy, underlined the French Ministry of Ecological Transition during a briefing at the end of the day.
The second contributor to climate change after CO2, methane has a warming power approximately 80 times greater over twenty years. But its shorter lifespan makes its reduction a source of “significant short-term climate benefits”, underlines the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Monday in its annual Global Methane Tracker report.
Odorless and invisible, methane is the natural gas molecule which escapes in particular from oil and gas infrastructures, agriculture and landfills.
– “No sign” of decline –
Nearly 160 countries have committed to reducing methane emissions by 30% by 2030, but the world is still “very far” from the objective, Ms. Barbut stressed during the opening speech, calling for “joining forces to accelerate the implementation “Working on effective solutions”.
Around 60% of global methane emissions are attributable to human activity, with agriculture in the lead, followed by energy.
“There is still no sign” showing that emissions from the fossil fuel sector (oil, coal, gas) are falling despite “well-known and proven” mitigation solutions, indicates the IEA in its report.
Emissions from this sector – resulting in particular from leaks or voluntary degassing or flaring operations – remained at “very high levels” in 2025, representing 35% of anthropogenic methane.
However, detecting and repairing leaks or limiting routine flaring would make it possible to avoid 30% of emissions linked to fossil fuels, “at zero cost”, the captured gas being able to be resold, according to the IEA.
In the midst of an energy crisis, “tackling methane could also help countries strengthen the security of gas markets”, underlined the IEA.
The energy crisis linked to the war in Iran “certainly gives everyone an additional reason to act with speed”, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley told AFP. “The question is whether part of this gas can be put into production in the short or medium term, in any case more quickly than it would take to repair some of the production facilities” damaged by the war, she added.
The European Commissioner for Energy, Dan Jorgensen, also underlined the interest in fighting against this “waste”.
According to the IEA, 200 billion m3 of gas could be recovered annually by reducing emissions from oil and gas operations and eliminating non-emergency flaring. This is almost double the volumes of gas that passed through the strategic Strait of Hormuz in 2025.
Achieving such a level of reduction would take time but 15 billion m3 could be released quickly, the agency estimates.
“Reducing methane emissions remains one of the best things we can do to slow global warming while cleaning up our air, improving public health and strengthening our energy security,” said the British Minister for Energy. Energy, Ed Miliband, in a video message.
Agriculture is also a major source of methane emitted by cows and sheep, as are rice growing and landfills.
“However, we must be clear: the energy sector today offers the fastest and often the most cost-effective reductions,” according to Ms Barbut.
“We will continue this mobilization for COP31” with “means of action” and “slightly new strategies,” the ministry said Monday evening, without giving further details.
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