Methane emissions linked to the energy sector show no signs of decreasing. According to the new "Global Methane Tracker" report published on Wednesday 9 May by the International Energy Agency (Iea), levels throughout 2024 remained extremely high, at over 120 million tonnes, not far from the all-time record set in 2019.

Numerous sources: from "fugitive" emissions to cattle and waste

This is a particularly alarming piece of news for the future of the Earth's climate. Methane is indeed a greenhouse gas far more potent than CO2: its climate-altering power is 25–30 times greater, even though it remains in the Earth's atmosphere for "only" a few decades, unlike carbon dioxide, which persists for centuries. Its short- and medium-term effects are, however, particularly severe, and for this reason the absolute necessity of limiting the dispersal of the gas has long been stressed, if the global warming targets set by the international community are to be met.

International Energy Agency @IEA

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Our Global Methane Tracker 2025 is out!

It shows methane data & transparency are continuing to improve

But methane emissions remain stubbornly high - even though measures to tackle them are widely available and often very cost-effective

The report 👇 iea.li/4cZNOJC

♥ 47💬 3 7 mag 2025 · Apri su X →

The sources of methane emissions are numerous. They range from "fugitive" leaks from pipelines to those coming from mines, as well as those produced by cattle and waste. For this reason, the total quantity of this gas that ends up fuelling climate change each year is far higher than the share attributable to the energy sector alone: in total, for 2024, the figure stands at 580 million tonnes.

Of these, 60 per cent is attributable to human activities, led by agriculture, followed by the energy sector itself. The latter is responsible for one third of anthropogenic emissions: most of the methane comes from leaks that occur during extraction, production and transportation.

Many methane emissions could easily be avoided, according to the Iea

Nevertheless, as highlighted in the report by Iea executive director Fatih Birol, the measures adopted so far to reduce the use of this gas are, to date, "below expectations." And this despite the fact that, as the agency itself points out, around 70 per cent of such emissions could be avoided easily and at limited cost. Not least because the gas "captured" before it is dispersed can be resold.

International Energy Agency @IEA

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🗣️ "Tackling methane leaks & flaring offers a double dividend: it alleviates pressure on tight gas markets in many parts of the world, enhancing energy security – and lowers emissions at the same time."

IEA's @fbirol on our Global Methane Tracker 2025 ➡️ iea.li/4334X0n

♥ 9💬 4 7 mag 2025 · Apri su X →

In geographical terms, the report identifies China as the country emitting the largest quantity of methane, primarily due to coal-related activities. In second place are the United States, followed by Russia. The Iea stresses that these conclusions are based on data measured through satellite observations, rather than declared figures, which are often underestimated or outdated. The gap in this case is enormous: the agency explains that observations indicate values approximately 80 per cent higher than the emissions reported by governments to the United Nations.

Emissions declared by governments are vastly underestimated

One of the satellites used, the European Sentinel 5P, has made it possible to establish that the most severe methane emission events reached a record level in 2024. And this despite reduced coverage by the satellite itself. These major methane leaks were recorded primarily in the United States, in Turkmenistan and in Russia.