We estimate that the global energy sector was responsible for nearly 135 million tonnes of methane emissions in 2022, a slight rise from the amount in 2021. Coal, oil and natural gas operations are each responsible for around 40 Mt of emissions and nearly 5 Mt of leaks from end-use equipment. Around 10 Mt of emissions comes from the incomplete combustion of bioenergy, largely from the traditional use of biomass. The energy sector is responsible for nearly 40% of total methane emissions attributable to human activity, second only to agriculture.

There is a huge opportunity to cut methane emissions from the energy sector. We estimate that around 70% of methane emissions from fossil fuel operations could be reduced with existing technology. In the oil and gas sector, emissions can be reduced by over 75% by implementing well-known measures such as leak detection and repair programmes and upgrading leaky equipment. In the coal sector, more than half of methane emissions could be cut by making the most of coal mine methane utilisation, or by flaring or oxidation technologies when energy recovery is not viable.

Tackling emissions from fossil fuels is not the only opportunity to cut methane emissions. Achieving universal access to clean cooking and modern heating would cut emissions from the incomplete combustion of bioenergy and bring numerous benefits for human health and well-being.

Stopping all non-emergency flaring and venting is the single most impactful measure countries can take to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations. There should be minimal methane emissions from a flare if it is designed, maintained and operated correctly but this is not always the case. There are also occasions when flares are totally extinguished, resulting in direct venting to the atmosphere of gas that should be combusted. We estimate that only around 92% of the gas volumes directed into flares around the world are properly combusted (in line with recent studies for the main oil and gas producing regions of the United States indicating a combustion rate of 90-92%). On this basis, we estimate that flaring results in more than 500 Mt of CO_2-equivalent annual greenhouse gas emissions, including both CO₂ and methane emissions (one tonne of methane is considered to be equivalent to 30 tonnes of CO₂ based on the 100-year global warming potential).

More than 260 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas is wasted through flaring and methane leaks globally today. It is unlikely that all of this can be avoided, but with the right policies and on-the-ground implementation on both flaring and methane emissions, an estimated 200 bcm of additional gas could be brought to markets. This volume is greater than the European Union’s natural gas imports from Russia prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Stopping this waste of natural gas would also reduce global temperature rise by nearly 0.1 °C by mid-century. This is the same effect on the global temperature rise as immediately eliminating the GHG emissions from all of the world’s cars, trucks, buses and two- and three-wheeler vehicles.