Tackling methane emissions key for climate change and energy security: IEA

"Methane, the second-biggest contributor to climate change, stays in the atmosphere for far less time than carbon dioxide, but its warming effect is roughly 80 times more potent over a 20-year period."

"The IEA estimates that methane emissions from oil, gas and coal total 124 million tonnes a year. Oil is the largest source at 45 million tonnes (Mt), followed by coal at 43 Mt, and natural gas at 36 Mt."

"Nearly 100 billion cubic metres of natural gas could be made available annually through a global effort to cut methane from oil and gas operations."

"The ongoing crisis is reshaping the global energy system and disrupting about 20 percent of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade flows."

The International Energy Agency's report emphasizes that addressing methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector is crucial for energy security and climate change mitigation, especially during the Iran crisis. Methane emissions from oil, gas, and coal contribute significantly to global warming, yet progress in reducing these emissions remains stagnant. The report highlights that oil is the largest source of methane emissions, with substantial potential for increased natural gas availability through global methane reduction efforts.

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