Baku — A groundbreaking high-tech system designed to pinpoint major methane leaks has issued over 1,200 notifications to governments and companies in the past two years, yet a staggering 99% of these alerts went unacknowledged, according to new data released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on Friday. Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director, highlighted the urgent need for action, stating, “To have any chance of getting global warming under control, methane emissions must come down, and come down fast.” Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is considered the second largest driver of human-induced global warming, trailing only carbon dioxide (CO2) and is over 80 times more effective than CO2 in the short term. The report, titled “An Eye on Methane: Invisible but not Unseen,” emphasizes that the notifications generated by the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS), part of UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO), present a critical opportunity for immediate climate action.
The data indicates that global methane emissions must be reduced by 40-45% by 2030 to maintain a cost-effective trajectory toward limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Despite these alarming statistics, the response from governments and the oil and gas industry has been lackluster. Andersen urged for a shift in mindset, remarking, “We now have a proven system to identify major leaks so they can be quickly stopped — often with simple repairs. We are quite literally talking about screwing bolts tighter in some cases.” She called on stakeholders to transition from mere verbal commitments to tangible actions that address these critical leaks. The report does highlight some positive responses. For instance, in 2024, IMEO confirmed significant actions in Azerbaijan and the United States to mitigate emissions from major leaks.
Additionally, MARS notifications prompted responses in Algeria and Nigeria, leading to immediate action from governments and oil companies. In Algeria, long-standing methane leaks were addressed, resulting in annual emissions reductions equivalent to removing 500,000 cars from the road. In Nigeria, a six-month leak that emitted methane equivalent to 400,000 cars was resolved in less than two weeks through simple equipment replacements. As the world grapples with rising methane levels and their impact on climate change, the UNEP report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for collaborative efforts to harness existing technology and data-driven solutions. With tools ready and targets in sight, it’s time for decisive action to curb methane emissions and protect the planet for future generations.