IEA Says Methane Cuts Could Ease Climate Pressure And Add Gas Supply

The International Energy Agency says fossil fuel methane emissions are not falling globally, even as its Global Methane Tracker 2026 says oil, gas and coal operations remain a major source of human-caused methane. The agency's latest tracker says faster leak reductions and an end to non-emergency flaring could also make large volumes of natural gas available each year, according to reporting on the IEA findings.

The Details

The IEA's Global Methane Tracker 2026 says oil, gas and coal industries account for about 35% of methane emissions from human activity, according to Al Jazeera's coverage of the report. The IEA said there is still no sign that methane emissions from fossil fuel operations are falling globally, according to the agency's news release and reporting on its findings.

Al Jazeera, citing the IEA, reported that methane emissions from oil, gas and coal total about 124 million tonnes a year. The same reporting said the total includes roughly 45 million tonnes from oil, 43 million tonnes from coal and 36 million tonnes from natural gas.

The Guardian, citing the Global Methane Tracker 2026, reported that tried-and-tested methane abatement measures could make 200 billion cubic metres of natural gas available annually. Outlook Business, also citing the IEA report, reported that nearly 100 bcm of gas could be brought to market each year by cutting methane leaks, with another 100 bcm available by eliminating non-emergency flaring worldwide.

BSS/AFP, citing the report, said nearly 15 bcm of gas could be made available quickly if select exporting and importing countries implement readily accessible methane abatement measures across their gas systems. That figure is separate from the longer-term volumes cited by The Guardian and Outlook Business.

Outlook Business, citing the IEA report, said about 70% of fossil fuel methane emissions can be abated with existing technologies. The outlet also reported that more than 30% of those emissions could be avoided at no net cost, based on the IEA's findings.

The IEA's quoted assessment was direct: "There is still no sign that methane emissions from fossil fuel operations are falling, despite well-known and proven mitigation pathways," according to Al Jazeera. The statement places the report's focus on available mitigation measures rather than on technologies that have not yet been tested.

The report was released on May 4, 2026, according to the IEA report page. On the same date, France, as G7 chair, convened officials, industry leaders and experts to push methane-cutting efforts ahead of the COP31 summit, according to Al Jazeera.

Context

Methane is the second-biggest contributor to climate change and has roughly 80 times the warming effect of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, though it remains in the atmosphere for less time, according to Al Jazeera. That context is central to the IEA's framing of methane reductions as both a climate measure and an energy-security measure.

The Guardian reported that the IEA analysis was based on satellite data and measurement campaigns covering 2025 emissions and abatement costs. Those measurement sources underpin the report's estimates for current fossil fuel methane emissions and the potential gas volumes linked to abatement.

Outlook Business reported that the Middle East crisis has disrupted about 20% of global LNG trade through the Strait of Hormuz. The outlet said that disruption sharpened the energy-security case for methane abatement in the IEA findings.

Ed Miliband, in a video message to the France-hosted methane conference ahead of COP31, said 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 increasing our energy security," according to Al Jazeera. The quote tracked the report's dual focus on emissions and supply.

What's Next

The IEA report points to readily accessible methane abatement measures in select exporting and importing countries as a near-term route to making almost 15 bcm of gas available, according to BSS/AFP. It also identifies longer-term gains from cutting methane leaks and eliminating non-emergency flaring, according to Outlook Business and The Guardian.

France's G7-chair conference on May 4 brought officials, industry leaders and experts together ahead of COP31, according to Al Jazeera. The fact brief does not identify a specific vote, binding agreement or implementation deadline tied to that meeting.

The IEA's next test, based on its own quoted finding, is whether fossil fuel methane emissions begin falling after years in which the agency says there has been no global decline. Any further claim about timing or enforcement would require additional sourced reporting beyond the current brief.