Global Methane Pledge Champions Call for Accelerated Global Action on Methane Mitigation, Spotlight New Super Pollutant NDC Guidance

For updates on GMP Champions progress, visit: Canada, European Commission, Federated States of Micronesia, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, United States. 

• Global Methane Pledge (GMP) Champions, including Canada, the European Union, the Federated States of Micronesia, Germany, Japan, Nigeria, and the United States, encourage all GMP countries to cover methane in their next nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, utilizing, where appropriate, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition’s new NDC guidance manual.  
• The GMP Champions call for acceleration of methane mitigation action leveraging technical and financial assistance alongside data-driven solutions.
• The Champions invite GMP countries to showcase critical new progress toward meeting the pledge at the GMP Ministerial at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan to ensure that we avoid the worst of the climate crisis and keep the 1.5 °C warming target within reach.

New York City, September 2024 – With methane emissions continuing to rise around the world, contributing to warming and leading to devastating impacts on both the planet and human health, Global Methane Pledge (GMP) Champions are urging all GMP countries to accelerate action on methane mitigation and communicate information on how reductions in methane, as well as other super pollutants, will contribute to the implementation and achievement of their NDCs. GMP Champions play a unique role in galvanizing further progress towards reaching the goals set by the Pledge, to collectively reduce global methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.  

This year is critical to include methane reduction measures more explicitly in national climate policy planning. NDCs are at the heart of limiting warming, embodying efforts by each country to reduce national emissions. The inclusion of information on how methane reductions will contribute to the implementation and achievement of countries’ NDCs, including in the first Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), in a way that enables tracking of progress under the GMP, will be critical to realize necessary measures and keep the Paris Agreement long-term temperature goal within reach.  

To support countries with methane mitigation planning, the CCAC has prepared a guidance document for countries on how to address methane as well as other super pollutants in NDCs. This guidance builds on the CCAC’s Methane Roadmap Action Programme (M-RAP) and its associated workshops, which have already engaged with over 90 countries to date on the development of national methane action plans or roadmaps.  

In this guide, national governments will find specific recommendations on how to assess and incorporate measures to mitigate methane in national climate plans, strengthening the climate, environmental, social, and economic outcomes of NDC implementation.

Building on a recent G7 leaders’ commitment to pursue “collective effort towards a 75 per cent reduction in global methane emissions from fossil fuels, including by reducing methane emissions intensity of oil and gas operations by 2030”, the GMP champions are underlining that the reduction of methane emissions from the energy sector can and must play a significant role in meeting the goals of the GMP and Paris Agreement. Following this week’s launch of the CCAC Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme, the Champions call on all GMP countries to support the establishment of new oil and gas methane regulations and policies if they are not already in place or under development.  

Recognizing the need for credible data to drive mitigation, GMP Champions also urge governments to leverage the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) – which provides transparency on global super-emitting incidents. Also, recognizing that not all jurisdictions have robust reporting frameworks, the GMP Champions encourage private companies operating in these jurisdictions to join the Oil & Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0, to improve emissions management with accurate data. The Champions further urge all GMP stakeholders to engage via IMEO’s Methane Data Platform.

To further support action on methane mitigation, the Champions are calling on all GMP countries to highlight critical progress and increase their ambition at the upcoming GMP Ministerial at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024.  

“Temperatures are rising quickly and breaking records around the world. It is more and more urgent to work together for a liveable planet now and into the future. Reducing methane emissions remains one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to do this. As countries set their 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions, Canada encourages them to increase their ambition by accelerating efforts to mitigate methane emissions and we continue to stand ready to share our knowledge, experience, and support with developing countries as they do so.”  

Catherine Stewart, Canada’s Ambassador for Climate Change.

“We all need to do our part to reach - or better yet - to exceed the 30% emissions reduction target by 2030 we set ourselves in the Global Methane Pledge. Let's make it happen, together”,

European Commission President Von der Leyen.

"Consistent with its usual stance in calling for global action to aggressively reduce greenhouse gases to achieve our target of 1.5 degrees, the Federated States of Micronesia is excited to join GMP Champions in advocating for another aggressive GHG-reduction initiative, which, in this case, targets methane emissions reduction due its high global warming potential."  

Ms. Cynthia H. Ehmes, Acting Secretary for the Federated States of Micronesia Department of Environment, Climate Change and Emergency Management

“Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas, that has contributed already by one third to global warming. In Germany we have already undertaken effective measures in the waste and energy sectors with a ban of municipal solid waste dumpsites, phasing out coal mining, and utilizing and destroying all remaining coal mine methane from the closed mines. With the EU Methane Regulation, we will tackle methane emissions in our entire fossil fuel supply chain by only allowing certified oil, gas, and coal to be marketed to consumers. Let us work together globally in the Global Methane Pledge to seize the opportunity we have in slashing global warming effectively.”  

Stefan Wenzel, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Germany.

“Japan welcomes over 150 Parties endorsing the Global Methane Pledge since its launch. To make progress in the effort towards 1.5℃ goal, methane mitigation is one of the keys. As the Global Stocktake at COP28 conveys, the next NDCs should cover all greenhouse gases. Japan calls on every Parties to include absolute target of methane emissions in the next NDCs. Japan will not only continue its effort in methane mitigation under the next NDC, but also keep its support to other partners in this effort. “

Kazuhiko Nakamura, Ambassador, Vice Minister, Director-General for Global Issues, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan.

“Nigeria is committed to driving the reduction in methane emissions by providing the right legal, policy, and fiscal ecosystem to ensure the actualisation of this goal.”  

Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe, Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Nigeria

“Reducing global methane emissions in line with the Global Methane Pledge is essential if we are to keep a safe climate future within reach. The United States is looking for every opportunity to reduce our domestic emissions and support other countries to take ambitious action on this critical greenhouse gas.” Rick Duke, U.S. Deputy Envoy for Climate and CCAC Co-Chair.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Global Methane Pledge:  

The Global Methane Pledge (GMP) was launched at COP26 by the European Union and the United States. In September 2024, 156 additional countries have joined the GMP agreeing to take voluntary actions to collectively reduce global methane emissions at least 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030.  Meeting the GMP target would reduce methane emissions to a level consistent with 1.5°C pathways while delivering significant benefits for human and ecosystem health, food security and our economies.

The GMP Champions group comprises Canada, the European Union, the Federated States of Micronesia, Germany, Japan, Nigeria and the United States. Together they are working to advocate for methane action and accelerate implementation of the GMP at the international and domestic levels.

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) act as GMP core implementers by providing critical support in operationalisation of the GMP. The CCAC also provides secretariat services to the GMP.

For more information, please contact:

Vincent Hughes, Communications and Media Consultant, Climate and Clean Air Coalition Secretariat at United Nations Environment Programme – Vincent.Hughes [at] un.org

Ava Bahrami, Communications Officer, Climate and Clean Air Coalition Secretariat at United Nations Environment Programme – Ava.Bahrami [at] un.org