Global climate reports highlight methane risks and emission gaps

Recent environmental reports indicate that methane is a critical driver of global warming, accounting for approximately 30 percent of the temperature rise since the industrial era. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) Global Methane Tracker 2026, an estimated 124 million tons of methane will be released from oil, gas, and coal production in 2025. The IEA estimates that roughly 70 percent of these emissions could be prevented using existing technology.

While the European Union passed a law in 2024 to reduce methane emissions in the energy sector, the EU Commission has proposed delaying the implementation of proof-of-origin requirements for imports by one year.

Separately, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) warns that current global climate commitments are insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement goals. Under current trajectories, the planet is heading toward a warming of 2.6 degrees Celsius this century. To limit warming to 1.5 degrees, global greenhouse gas emissions must decrease by 18 percent by 2030, 45 percent by 2035, and 69 percent by 2040, relative to 2025 levels.