Turning Commitment into Compliance: Advancing the Methane Reductions in the Fossil Fuel Sector

The time to act on methane emissions is now. 

It is essential to meet the central objectives of the Paris Agreement: keeping global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius (2°C) and pursuing efforts to limit the increase even further to 1.5°C. With methane contributing around a third of today’s global warming and being 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year timeframe, cutting methane offers one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow near-term climate change.

Methane is emitted across multiple sectors, including fossil fuel production, agriculture, and waste management. In the energy sector, methane is the primary component of natural gas and is released across the fossil fuel value chain, from upstream extraction and processing to midstream transport and downstream distribution. It also escapes from coal mining, both active and abandoned. These emissions often continue even after production stops. 

Further, the 2021 UNEP/CCAC Global Methane Assessment showed that the fossil fuel sector must deliver over half of methane emissions reductions by 2030 to achieve the Global Methane Pledge. Emissions from the sector should be reduced by approximately 60% below 2020 levels by 2030. Without a dual strategy of reducing methane and deep decarbonisation of the energy sector we will not be able to meet the Paris Agreement objective. 

Given the global nature of fossil fuel markets, work towards aligning performance requirements and reporting standards is more feasible and urgent than ever. Emerging import rules such as the EU Methane Regulation hint at a future where certified, lower-emission fuels gain competitive advantage. In this context, global cooperation can help drive the development of near-zero methane emission performance standards. Future refinements in emission tracking could resemble a "methane blockchain," where emissions data is verified and updated by each actor along the value chain, increasing transparency and accountability. 

According to the IEA, up to 75% of oil and gas methane emissions and 50% of coal mine methane emissions can be cut at low or zero cost, representing billions of dollars of recoverable gas and significant climate benefits. Beyond climate mitigation, action delivers co-benefits such as improved air quality, energy security, and public health benefits.

The opportunity to act is clear, and the global landscape is mobilizing to respond. 159 national governments as well as the European Commission participate in the Global Methane Pledge and have committed to a collective effort to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels. However, progress is lagging. Many countries are still working on the development of policies and technical frameworks to enable the necessary cuts in emissions. This is where international cooperation, technical support, and shared standards become vital.

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) plays a pivotal role in advancing methane action across all sectors, including the fossil fuel sector, as Secretariat to the GMP, and through its Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme (FFRP) which is implemented in partnership with the Clean Air Task Force (CATF).  The FFRP helps governments design and implement robust regulatory frameworks to cut methane emissions, and offers tailored, hands-on support to policymakers in key producing countries, working directly with energy and environmental regulators to integrate methane targets, reduction pathways, monitoring, verification systems, and enforcement mechanisms into national policies and legal frameworks. This programme provides not only technical guidance but a base to gain access to further financial support and capacity building, enabling countries to go from commitment to implementation.

The CCAC also convenes the Fossil Fuel Hub, a global community of practice bringing together government officials, technical experts, companies, and civil society to share experiences, build capacity, and align actions. The Hub supports peer learning and collaborative problem-solving, offering a platform for countries to accelerate progress by learning from one another and co-developing best practices. Through webinars, technical exchanges, and in-person workshops, the Hub is catalyzing a shift toward coordinated global action on methane. 

Looking ahead, the CCAC aims to expand the reach and impact of the Hub, growing its membership, deepening engagement across regions, and scaling up technical support. This includes strengthening linkages between policy and implementation, building institutional capacity, and helping countries translate shared knowledge into practical national and local action plans.

A growing number of governments are also incorporating methane-specific measures into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), roadmaps, and policy reforms. Industry commitments are also increasing, including UNEP’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) and the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC), which targets near-zero methane losses (defined as 0.2%).

But policies must reach the field. Regulatory requirements are most effective when embedded into development and concession agreements, ensuring methane mitigation is a core part of daily operations. Well-designed rules can align private sector goals with public mandates, clarify cost recovery mechanisms, and open the door to sustainable finance. Together, these help align objectives between governments and national and private operators, reducing split incentives as a result.

To succeed, methane action must be coordinated across borders and sectors. The CCAC’s Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme and Fossil Fuel Hub offer the blueprint and the community to make that happen. By combining technical support, financial assistance, and peer learning, they help countries move from aspiration to implementation.

The problem is urgent, but the solutions are known. With strong leadership, aligned incentives, and shared standards, we can make fast, meaningful progress on methane, and give the world a better chance of meeting its climate goals.