In 2024, methane emissions remained in 2024 at levels close to historic records, according to a report published this Wednesday, May 7, 2025 by International Energy Agency (AIE). Last year, record production of the fossil industry sector (gas, oil, coal) was responsible for rejection in the atmosphere of more than 120 million tonnes of methane, close to the record reached in 2019, according to the new edition of this “Global Methane Tracker”.
Invisible in the air and odorless, methane, second largest greenhouse gas after the CO2is the natural gas molecule which escapes gas pipelines, coal mines, but also cows or waste. About 580 million tonnes are rejected each year.
60 % attributable to human activity
Human activity is responsible for more than half of its emissions up to 60 %, with agriculture in mind followed by energy. The energy sector is responsible for around a third of methane emissions of human origin, due to leaks that occur at the time of extraction, production and transport (gas pipelines, ships).
In power much more warming than the CO2methane is responsible for around 30 % of global warming since the industrial revolution, but it has a shorter lifespan. Therefore, it is a priority lever for a rapid reduction in emissions. Methane control measures remain, however “Before ambitions”said Fatih Birol, executive director of the IAI. And this while about 70 % of these emissions could be easily avoided at a lower cost depending on the OECD agency.
5 % of production meets a zero standard
-China is the world’s largest transmitter of methane linked to energy, mainly from its coal sector. Then follow the United States and Russia, according to IEA figures based on data measured by observation. The agency stresses that its estimate is around 80 % higher than the total declared by the countries to the United Nations even if “Transparency improves” thanks to more than 25 satellites which track the « plumes » methane, escaping from polluting installations.
One of them observed that the “Methane super-emission events” In petrogazières facilities reached a record level in 2024, despite reduced coverage. Massive leaks identified all over the world, but particularly in the United States, Turkmenistan and Russia. According to the IAI, the current commitments of companies and countries in terms of reducing methane discharges cover 80 % of global oil and gas production. But Today only about 5 % of this production “Concretely respect a methane emission standard close to zero”.
0.1 ° C in addition could be preserved
Tackling these Energy Methane emissions would considerably slow global warming, thus avoiding an increase of approximately 0.1 ° C of global temperatures by 2050. “It would have a considerable impact, comparable to the elimination of a single blow of all CO emissions2 of the heavy world industry “indicates the report.
However, the methane of coal “Is always ignored”deplored Sabina Assan, analyst at EME. “Today there are profitable and easy to implement technologies to fight against methane”she said. “We can no longer let the coal mines get away with it”.
