Strategically scaling methane mitigation in the fossil fuel sector

Fossil fuel use continues to grow and will remain a major part of energy systems for years to come, even as countries expand renewable alternatives. Cutting emissions from existing fossil fuel operations is therefore a CCAC priority to avoid unnecessary pollution during this transition and to help countries meet their wider sustainable development goals. 

The extraction, processing, and use of fossil fuels emit significant greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, a pollutant more than 80 times the 20-year warming power of CO₂. Today, methane accounts for roughly one-third of today’s global temperature rise. 

Approximately a third of the methane generated from human activities is derived from activities relating to the production and use of oil, gas, and coal. Progress on preventing methane emissions in the fossil fuel sector is achievable and will deliver immediate climate benefits while preventing the loss of billions of dollars’ worth of fuel. In fact, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that three-quarters of methane emissions from the oil and gas sector can be avoided, with nearly half achievable at zero or negative cost. 

Coal operations also release methane, and the amount depends on the type of mine. Underground mines emit methane through drainage systems that remove water from layers of coal, also known as coal seams, and through ventilation systems that keep miners safe. Surface mines release methane when coal seams are opened and disturbed. Emissions can continue after coal is processed and transported, and methane can still leak even after oil and gas wells or coal mines are closed, making proper abandonment  essential. 

CCAC’s History Tackling Methane Emissions in the Fossil Fuel Sector 

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) has led global efforts to reduce methane in the fossil fuel sector since launching its Oil and Gas Initiative in 2014. This initiative, and the subsequent Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP), mobilized governments and companies to improve emissions transparency and accountability. Early actions by countries like Canada and Mexico, as well as individual U.S. states, established a model for effective regulation and cross-border coordination through a North American Leaders Summit and trilateral agreement in 2016. 

Today, the CCAC helps governments adopt best practices and integrate methane reduction into their climate strategies, supporting the inclusion of policies, actions, and targets for methane and black carbon emissions from the fossil fuel sector in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). To build on this body of work, the CCAC launched the Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme (FFRP) with the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) in 2024 to support up to 20 fossil fuel producing countries with the design and implementation of methane-specific regulations. This was followed by the launch of the Methane Regulator to Regulator Network (MR2R) this year and is co-convened in conjunction with the International Energy Agency (IEA) as part of their Global Methane Engagement Programme. The network which provides peer-to-peer support to expand the reach of FFRP and react to changing regulatory landscapes. 

Increasingly, countries are aligned on taking action to mitigate emissions in the sector. National commitments represented in the Global Methane Pledge, the World Banks’ Global Flaring Methane Reduction Partnership and the CCAC’s Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme -- as well as corporate programmes such as the UNEP-IMEO's Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 and the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative's Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter – have advanced policy and data-driven solutions including a global collaboration to improve methane measurement and verification. 

Countries are also using market levers to reduce methane emissions in the global trade of fossil fuels by setting clear expectations for how companies should manage their emissions and sharing information between importing and exporting countries, as reflected in the EU’s Methane Regulation (2024) and Japan and Korea’s CLEAN Initiative. 

Integrating Fossil Fuel Methane in Climate Plans 

The CCAC plans to build its work in the sector by continuing its efforts to embed methane mitigation directly into national and global climate policy frameworks. Central to this vision is supporting countries in developing methane and short lived climate pollutant roadmaps designed for integration into their NDCs)  

By engaging closely with ministries, national oil companies (NOCs), and energy regulators, the CCAC ensures that methane management is incorporated into long-term climate, energy, and economic planning. This approach positions methane reduction not as an isolated environmental goal but as a lever for advancing national priorities, including energy security, fiscal stability, and social welfare. Support includes technical guidance for monitoring and verification, assistance with regulatory design through the Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme (FFRP), and institutional strengthening to sustain progress beyond individual project cycles.

Updated Fossil Fuel Engagement Strategy approved in 2025

The newly updated Fossil Fuel Engagement Strategy recognizes the central role of Ministries of Energy, Finance, and affiliated agencies, alongside Ministries of Environment and civil society, in shaping effective methane policies. Performance increasingly depends on emissions transparency and environmental credibility, as buyers and investors begin to differentiate products based on methane intensity. Countries and companies demonstrating high emissions performance gain competitive advantage in global markets.

The strategy also addresses ongoing barriers, including fragmented regulations, weak enforcement, limited monitoring capacity, restricted access to finance for ODA-eligible NOCs, and inconsistent data transparency. The CCAC works with governments using established frameworks such as the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) to identify regulatory, performance, and reporting alignment opportunities. Support includes crafting methane reduction roadmaps that translate national goals into enforceable regulations, measurable performance expectations, and robust measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MMRV) systems based on the OGMP2 framework.

Crucially, the CCAC’s work also extends beyond national boundaries through the Fossil Fuel Hub, which fosters regional and global learning and policy diffusion through a network of engaged governments, NOCs, and regulators. The Hub brings together a Community of Practice for knowledge sharing, the FFRP to support regulatory design and implementation, and the Methane Regulator-to-Regulator Network (MR2R) for peer-to-peer learning and adaptation to evolving regulatory landscapes. By creating a shared “common language” of emissions performance, the CCAC positions itself as both a facilitator of domestic policy alignment and a bridge between producers and consumers of fossil fuels—linking climate ambition with market access and establishing methane and black carbon reductions as a shared global expectation.

As we look ahead to 2026, the CCAC will continue to drive innovative thinking and collaboration. This includes supporting implementation of the UK-led Fossil Fuel Statement announced at COP30 and represents a coordinated, international effort to drive near-zero methane emissions across the global oil, gas, and coal value chain. The Statement builds on existing policy platforms and considers the inclusion of market signals that reward ambitious action.  

As Africa’s largest oil and gas producer, Nigeria is working with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to significantly reduce methane emissions from its fossil fuel sector under the Global Methane Alliance. In partnership with the Clean Air Task Force (CATF), CCAC has supported capacity-building workshops, inventory development, and regulatory design recommendations, culminating in the publication of new upstream oil and gas regulations in 2022. A leak detection workshop was conducted in 2024 to strengthen technical expertise. Building on its updated NDC3.0, which targets zero routine gas flaring by 2030 and a 60% reduction in fugitive emissions by 2035, Nigeria continues to collaborate with CCAC to enhance policies, regulatory frameworks, and institutional capacity for measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MMRV). Future FFRP support will focus on developing data management tools and extending regulations across the midstream and downstream value chain. 

Côte d’Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire is advancing its capacity to manage methane emissions in the oil and gas sector as part of its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30.41% by 2030. In May 2025, CCAC and CATF supported a four-day national workshop on Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) in the Greater Abidjan region. Organized in collaboration with Clearstone Engineering and Patro Research Ltd., the workshop combined classroom instruction with hands-on demonstrations using advanced Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) cameras, mobile monitoring systems, and UAV-based flare inspection tools. Thirty-seven participants from government and industry learned international best practices, regulatory frameworks, and methodologies for methane reporting, monitoring, and verification (MRV). Côte d’Ivoire plans to establish a national task force to strengthen fossil fuel regulation and will engage with CCAC’s FFRP to integrate LDAR, emissions inventories, and MRV systems into its national climate strategy. 

Iraq

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Iraq, one of the world’s largest oil producers, is partnering with CCAC and CATF to reduce methane emissions from its fossil fuel sector, aligning with its Global Methane Pledge commitment to cut emissions by 30% by 2030. The country developed a national methane emissions inventory and mitigation assessment for oil and gas, providing critical data for identifying major emission sources and guiding effective policy measures. Using CATF’s Country Methane Abatement Tool (CoMAT), Iraqi officials refined emissions estimates, tested mitigation scenarios, and applied global best practices to design cost-effective reduction measures. Planned activities through 2026 include the development of a Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) guideline and a tank vapor recovery roadmap to capture and utilize methane rather than release it into the atmosphere. These efforts build on Iraq’s legal framework for pollution prevention and its Paris Agreement commitments, strengthening measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MMRV) systems and embedding methane control measures into national regulations. Parallel CCAC support is advancing a national Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) plan encompassing all key sectors, including oil and gas. 

Kazakhstan

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Kazakhstan, a major producer and exporter of oil, gas, and coal, is working with CCAC and CATF, in partnership with the International Energy Agency (IEA), to design additional oil and gas methane regulations. This builds on prior successes in reducing flaring and aligns with the government’s ongoing climate strategies. Continued FFRP engagement in 2026 will support the development of coal-specific regulations. These efforts are complemented by CCAC support for national planning and capacity building, including collaboration with the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and local implementers.