The International Energy Agency’s latest Global Methane Tracker reveals persistent methane releases from fossil fuel production, highlighting gaps between climate commitments and industry action in 2025.
Methane from fossil fuel production and use remained stubbornly high in 2025, according to the International Energy Agency’s latest Global Methane Tracker, underscoring how far industry practice still lags behind climate pledges.
The IEA says the energy sector released just under 150 million tonnes of methane last year, with coal responsible for about 39 million tonnes, oil for 44 million tonnes and natural gas for close to 34 million tonnes. That leaves fossil fuels as one of the biggest industrial sources of a gas that is far more powerful than carbon dioxide over the short time it stays in the atmosphere, and one that the agency says is contributing heavily to recent warming.
The figures are striking because methane is relatively short-lived, lingering in the atmosphere for around 12 years, yet it absorbs much more heat while it is there. The IEA says atmospheric methane concentrations are now 2.7 times higher than before the Industrial Revolution, making the gas responsible for nearly 30% of the rise in global average temperatures since then.
Despite the scale of the problem, the latest tracker shows little evidence of a meaningful downturn. The agency says more than 100 countries have signed up to the Global Methane Pledge, and over half of global oil and gas output now sits under some form of reduction commitment. But those promises have not yet translated into the sort of sustained operational changes needed to bring emissions down.
That gap between announcement and execution is central to the IEA’s warning. The agency argues that methane reduction remains one of the fastest ways to slow warming in the near term, yet it continues to be treated as an issue for future policy rather than current industrial performance.
Most of the emissions come from upstream activity, where leaks, venting and incomplete flaring remain common. In oil and gas, the biggest opportunities lie in detecting and repairing leaks, upgrading equipment, electrifying pumps and compressors, and cutting routine flaring. The IEA says these measures are already available and could be deployed quickly if companies and regulators moved decisively.
The agency also points to broader industrial and energy-system benefits. Capturing methane that would otherwise be lost can improve operational efficiency and, in some cases, support energy security by bringing additional gas to market without increasing production. The IEA estimates that better management of existing assets could recover significant volumes of gas over time.
Geographically, the burden is concentrated in a handful of major emitters. China remains the largest source, largely because of coal mining, while the United States and Russia are also among the top contributors due to large-scale oil and gas operations. In South and South-East Asia, emissions are rising alongside energy demand, with India and Indonesia playing a prominent role.
The report also notes that methane from abandoned wells and mines remains material, contributing several million tonnes a year, while bioenergy adds further emissions through the incomplete combustion of traditional biomass used for cooking and heating in developing economies.
For industrial decarbonisation professionals, the message is clear: methane is not a marginal issue, but one of the most immediate and technically addressable challenges in the energy transition. The tools already exist. What is missing, the IEA says, is consistent implementation.
- https://sigmaearth.com/fossil-fuel-methane-emissions-remained-at-record-highs-in-2025-iea-says/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fossil-fuel-methane-emissions-remained-at-record-highs-in-2025-iea-says – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2025/key-findings – The International Energy Agency’s Global Methane Tracker 2025 reveals that the fossil fuel sector is responsible for nearly one-third of methane emissions from human activity. Despite record production of oil, gas, and coal, combined with limited mitigation efforts, emissions remain above 120 million tonnes annually. The report highlights that abandoned wells and mines contributed around 8 million tonnes to these emissions in 2024. It also notes that bioenergy production and consumption result in an additional 20 million tonnes of methane, largely from the incomplete combustion of traditional biomass used in cooking and heating in developing economies.
- https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2025/understanding-methane-emissions – The IEA’s Global Methane Tracker 2025 provides an in-depth analysis of methane emissions, noting that methane has a much shorter atmospheric lifetime than carbon dioxide—around 12 years—but absorbs much more energy while it remains in the atmosphere. The report estimates that annual global methane emissions are around 610 million tonnes, with human activity responsible for almost two-thirds of the total. The energy sector accounts for approximately 145 million tonnes of methane emissions in 2024, with oil operations responsible for around 45 million tonnes, natural gas operations for nearly 35 million tonnes, and abandoned wells for around 3 million tonnes.
- https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker-2026/understanding-methane-emissions – The IEA’s Global Methane Tracker 2026 highlights that atmospheric methane concentrations are 2.7 times higher than before the Industrial Revolution, contributing to nearly 30% of the rise in global average temperatures since that era. The report estimates that annual global methane emissions reached around 610 million tonnes in 2020, with human activity accounting for almost two-thirds of the total. The energy sector emitted nearly 150 million tonnes of methane in 2025, with coal production responsible for 39 million tonnes, oil operations for 44 million tonnes, and natural gas activities for close to 34 million tonnes.
- https://www.iea.org/reports/global-methane-tracker- … 5 – The IEA’s Global Methane Tracker 2025 provides essential data on methane emissions across the energy sector and the opportunities to reduce them. The report presents the IEA’s latest sector-wide emissions estimates, based on the most recent data from satellites and measurement campaigns, and discusses different abatement options along with their associated costs. It highlights that the energy sector accounts for more than 35% of methane emissions from human activity and has some of the best opportunities to cut these emissions.
- https://www.iea.org/energy-system/fossil-fuels/methane-abatement – The IEA’s Methane Abatement report highlights that methane emissions from fossil fuels remain at stubbornly high levels, despite efforts to bolster data collection and monitor methane leaks. The fossil fuel sector accounts for nearly one-third of global methane emissions from human activity. Record global production of oil, gas, and coal, along with limited mitigation efforts, have kept methane emissions from the energy sector worldwide above 120 million tonnes annually. The report emphasizes the need for effective policies and real action to reduce methane emissions.
- https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2026/05/04/hunt-for-methane-leaks-reveals-persistent-pollution-around-french-oil-and-gas-sites_6753118_114.html – Environmental NGOs Clean Air Task Force and Friends of the Earth conducted field inspections on 64 oil and gas sites across southern France to detect methane leaks using infrared technology. They discovered leaks at two-thirds of the sites, including both unintentional emissions from defective equipment and deliberate releases during maintenance. The findings were presented during a G7-hosted conference on methane, where France was expected to champion stricter adherence to EU rules.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article references the IEA’s Global Methane Tracker 2026, published three days ago, indicating recent information. However, the article itself was published on May 5, 2026, which is three days after the IEA report’s release. This slight delay is acceptable, but the article’s freshness is slightly reduced due to the time gap.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes attributed to IEA officials, such as Tim Gould. However, these quotes cannot be independently verified through the provided sources. The lack of verifiable quotes raises concerns about the article’s credibility.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The article originates from Sigma Earth, a niche environmental news outlet. While it provides a summary of the IEA report, the lack of independent verification and reliance on a single source diminishes its reliability.
Plausibility check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about methane emissions from fossil fuels remaining at record highs in 2025 align with the IEA’s findings. However, the article’s reliance on a single source without independent verification slightly reduces its credibility.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents information from the IEA’s Global Methane Tracker 2026, but its reliance on a single, niche source without independent verification and the inability to verify direct quotes raise significant concerns about its credibility. The slight delay between the IEA report’s release and the article’s publication further diminishes its freshness. Therefore, the article fails to meet the necessary standards for publication.
