Secretary-General's Call to Action on Methane

The world is entering an era of temporary 1.5°C overshoot — unless emissions fall fast enough to bring temperatures back down this century. While methane is responsible for nearly one-third of global warming to date, it remains significantly under-prioritized in climate action and political decision-making.

Cutting methane emissions is one of the fastest, cheapest and most effective opportunities to slow global warming in the near term while delivering cleaner air, stronger crop yields, improved health and major economic benefits. Cutting methane does not replace the necessary reductions in carbon emissions, but without it, keeping 1.5°C within reach becomes far harder and more uncertain.

In response to the urgent need for action, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is calling for decisive action across the three largest methane-emitting sectors — fossil fuels, agriculture and waste – through nine priority actions by 2030. These actions include fixing leaks and ending routine flaring in the fossil fuel sector, producing food more sustainably while reducing food loss and waste, and building cleaner, low-methane waste systems in cities and communities around the world. Delivering these actions will require stronger political leadership, international cooperation and a major increase in methane finance this decade.