Methane emissions from fossil fuel production remained near record highs in 2025, with no clear global decline even as oil, gas and coal output also hit record levels, the International Energy Agency said in its Global Methane Tracker 2026 released on Monday.
The report said the fossil-fuel sector accounted for about 35% of methane emissions from human activity, while emissions from oil, gas and coal operations totalled 124 million tonnes a year. Oil was the largest source, followed by coal and natural gas.
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Pledges expand but implementation gap remains wide
The IEA said commitments to cut methane now cover more than half of global oil and gas production, but the latest data show a “large implementation gap”.
It added that around 70% of fossil fuel methane emissions — nearly 85 million tonnes — could be abated with existing technologies, and that more than 35 million tonnes could be avoided at no net cost based on average 2025 energy prices.
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Cutting methane could boost gas supply, energy security
The agency also framed the issue as one of energy security, not just climate policy. Citing the disruption in the Middle East and the tightening of gas markets, the IEA said methane-cutting measures across oil and gas systems could quickly make nearly 15 billion cubic metres of gas available to markets.
Over the longer term, curbing methane from oil and gas operations could unlock nearly 100 bcm annually, while ending non-emergency flaring could add another 100 bcm. Tim Gould, the IEA’s chief energy economist, said: “This is not only a climate issue: there are also major energy security benefits that can come from tackling methane and flaring, especially at a time when the world is urgently looking for additional supply amid the current crisis.”
China, US, Russia top emitters as monitoring improves
The report said the top 10 emitting countries were responsible for more than 85 million tonnes of fossil-fuel methane in 2025, with China the largest emitter, followed by the US and Russia.
It also pointed to growing satellite-based monitoring and tighter regulations in places such as Canada and the European Union as signs of progress, even as the agency warned that current policies remain well short of what is needed.
