Global Methane Pledge Ministerial

Preamble

We, the undersigned governments and international organisations, are committed to drastically reducing global methane emissions. This decisive action is needed now to keep the goals of the Paris Agreement in reach, and protect people, economies, and the planet. Urgently tackling these emissions will give us more time to counteract climate change, while delivering immediate benefits for air quality, public health, food security, and sustainable development.

Methane is responsible for roughly one-third of current warming and reducing it is the fastest and most effective way to slow temperature rise. Proven solutions are within reach, especially in the oil and gas sector where operational practices exist to drastically cut emissions by up to 75% by 2030, providing an opportunity to lower global temperatures by 0.1°C by 2050. Tackling methane emissions in the oil and gas sector can also enhance returns on investment and competitiveness.

Building on global momentum, increasing political ambition and existing initiatives like, the Global Methane Pledge and others such as the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0, the Global Flaring and Methane Reduction Partnership, and the CCAC’s Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme, the IEA's Global Methane Engagement Programme, the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative, the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter, the UNFCCC’s MMRV Frameworks and IPCC reporting guidelines we are committed to accelerating action and implementing a new approach, built on shared responsibility and mutual accountability between producing and consuming countries, underpinned by market signals that reward ambitious action.

Actions

We, the undersigned governments and international organisations, support the following actions to make methane reduction across the fossil fuel sector a defining pillar of global climate ambition:

1. Implement robust Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MMRV), building on the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 and based on best available science and economic technologies, considering independent forms of verification. Promote the publication of methane emission data where possible to enhance transparency and promote consistent and coherent practices to ensure interoperability of data across jurisdictions.

2. Collaborate around mitigation measures including effective use of market signals to accelerate methane emission reduction, eliminate routine flaring and venting, and reward producers who act quickly and transparently, to achieve near zero methane intensity. Support low and middle-income producer countries with policy and technical capacity building, to reach near zero methane intensity.

3. Recognise the importance of effective methane policies and pursue efforts to near zero methane emission intensity in the Fossil Fuel Sector – including clear policies to end routine venting and flaring by 2030 and hold operators accountable. Integrate methane policies into the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions or national climate strategies. 

4. Support industry action, innovation, and investment including the adoption of best practices and performance goals in line with the Methane Abatement Partnerships Roadmap launched at COP29, our national goals and deliver on existing initiatives.

5. Strengthen partnerships and shared responsibility between producing and importing countries and knowledge transfer and capacity building. Work to establish collaborative mechanisms between the fossil fuel sector and technical experts to accelerate action.

6. Establish a panel of governments from signatories to this statement, supported by existing structures, to work towards the development of near zero methane intensity marketplace to announce and report progress in 2026. This mechanism will turn our shared vision into practical action, the fastest and most effective way to reduce rising temperatures in the near term.