The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) announced today a major expansion of its global methane detection system, enabling satellites to track emissions from coal mines and waste facilities for the first time.
The plan, unveiled at a high-level methane event hosted by France under its G7 Presidency, follows UNEP analysis of the world’s top 50 methane sources – many of which stem from the coal and waste sectors.
It comes alongside new industry commitments from national oil companies in Angola, Libya and Pakistan, bringing global coverage of UNEP’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0) closer to half of oil and gas production.
“Methane cuts are the fastest brake we have on global warming — but only if emissions that are detected are rapidly fixed. Today’s announcements move the world from knowing where methane is leaking to having the tools to stop it”, said Martin Krause, Director, Climate Change, UNEP.
“Expanding UNEP’s Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) to coal and waste, strengthening response frameworks, and bringing more companies into verified measurement sends a clear signal: the era of invisible methane emissions is ending,” he added.
New blueprint to turn alerts into action
To ensure alerts result in real‑world fixes, IMEO and the International Energy Agency (IEA) today released a new MARS Response Blueprint, providing governments with a clear, step‑by‑step playbook for verifying emissions, mobilising operators, and tracking mitigation. IMEO and partners will support countries with hands‑on technical assistance to turn alerts into measurable emissions cuts.
National oil companies join UNEP framework, pushing global coverage toward 50 per cent
In a further signal of rising political and market momentum on methane, UNEP announced that Libya’s National Oil Corporation, Pakistan’s Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), and Angola’s Sonangol have joined UNEP’s OGMP 2.0.
Their entry brings OGMP 2.0 close to covering half of global oil and gas production, accelerating a shift toward independently verified, asset‑level methane measurement — including across joint ventures.
New coal methane database exposes mine‑level emissions worldwide
UNEP’s IMEO also launched its Coal Methane Database, delivering unprecedented mine‑level transparency for a sector long characterised by data gaps.
The database provides emissions estimates for nearly 250 coal mines, covering more than half of global metallurgical coal production, and integrates satellite observations, scientific research and official inventories into a single dataset. IMEO experts analysed over 23,000 satellite observations, attributing detected methane plumes to individual mines and emission sources.
The database gives operators, regulators, investors and steelmakers the information needed to act and cut methane emissions decisively – and ensure accountability.
About the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership to improve the quality of life without compromising future generations.
UNEP is at the forefront of methane emissions reduction in line with efforts to limit global temperature rise to 1.5˚C. UNEP works through two initiatives: the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) to bridge the gap between data, policy, and action to reduce methane emissions. Both initiatives support the implementation of the Global Methane Pledge, to which CCAC provides secretariat functions.
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