Paris, May 4 (SANA) Methane emissions are back in focus as France calls for faster global action, warning of a widening gap between international pledges and actual reductions, with levels remaining persistently high.
French Minister for Ecological Transition Monique Barbut said at a conference held under France’s Group of Seven (G7) presidency that tackling methane emissions “is not an individual battle,” stressing the need for coordinated efforts among governments, companies and investors.
Emissions remain high
Methane is one of the most powerful greenhouse gases driving short-term warming, accounting for about 30 percent of global temperature increases since the industrial revolution.
Data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) showed methane emissions from human activity reached about 124 million tons in 2025, with fossil fuel-related sources accounting for around 35 percent. Globally, emissions total about 580 million tons annually, with agriculture and the energy sector as the main contributors.
Despite commitments by nearly 100 countries since 2021, there has been no significant decline in emissions linked to the energy sector, highlighting a gap between pledges and implementation.
Energy sector central to challenge
The oil and gas sector remains a major source of methane emissions, including leaks from pipelines, venting and incomplete flaring.
The IEA said existing technologies, such as leak detection and repair, could reduce emissions by around 30 percent “at no net cost,” as captured gas can be resold.
Reducing methane emissions could also strengthen energy security, with recovered gas potentially adding up to 200 billion cubic meters annually to global markets amid supply pressures linked to tensions in the Middle East.
Implementation lagging
About 70 percent of energy-related methane emissions come from the top 10 producing countries, led by China, followed by the United States and Russia.
While monitoring technologies, including satellites, have improved detection of major emission sources, current policies aim to cut emissions by only 20 percent by 2030, below the global target of 30 percent.
France has called for stronger implementation, emphasizing that meaningful progress depends on concrete action rather than new commitments.
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