IEA to release new methane emissions data and roadmap for reducing them

Dr Fatih Birol, IEA Executive Director, and Tim Gould, Head of Division for Energy Supply and Investment Outlooks, will be hosting a webinar for the media on Monday at 14:30 PM Paris time to present the report’s main findings and review the new 2020 numbers. The new methane announcements are part of a series of IEA special projects in 2021 to support efforts to reach global energy and climate goals.

Methane emissions are the second largest cause of global warming. While methane tends to receive less attention than carbon dioxide, reducing methane emissions will be critical for avoiding the worst effects of climate change. The largest source of methane emissions from human activity is agriculture, responsible for around a quarter of the total, closely followed by the energy sector, which includes emissions from coal, oil, natural gas and biofuels.

In a new update, the IEA is releasing our latest updated numbers on methane emissions for 2020 as well as the potential for reducing them. Our Methane Tracker will also include, for the first time, data on larger-scale methane leaks detected by satellite.

Our new report Driving Down Methane Leaks from the Oil and Gas Industry: A Regulatory Roadmap and Toolkit will examine cost-effective emissions reduction opportunities for the energy sector, particularly in oil and gas operations. The roadmap will serve as a detailed ‘how-to’ guide for policymakers and regulators seeking to increase ambition on reducing methane emissions.

Copies of the report and the updated Tracker will be made available under embargo to webinar participants. You can also email us at press@iea.org to receive an embargoed copy. Please kindly note that these materials will be under embargo until 6 AM Paris time on Monday, 18 January 2021.