Methane is responsible for around 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution, and rapid and sustained reductions in methane emissions are key to limiting near-term global warming and improving air quality. The energy sector – including oil, natural gas, coal and bioenergy – accounts for nearly 40% of methane emissions from human activity. The IEA’s Global Methane Tracker is an indispensable tool in the fight to bring down emissions from across the energy sector. This year’s update provides the latest estimates of emissions from across the sector – drawing on the more recent data and readings from satellites and ground-based measurements – and the costs and opportunities to tackle these emissions. For the first time the Tracker includes the opportunities and costs to reduce emissions from coal supply, allowing for a comprehensive overview of abatement options for fossil fuel operations.
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