Satellites can now detect methane leaks in real-time – but most cannot be repaired

That United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) want to close that gap. Last month they announced a new effort – backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies – to help countries investigate and fix 80 percent of major leaks detected by 2030. Currently, only 10 countries are managing it.

Currently, only 10 countries have achieved that level of response.

Methane is responsible for a third of current global warming. In contrast to carbon dioxide, it stays in the atmosphere for a much shorter time, meaning that emissions reductions can now provide climate benefits within years, rather than decades.

“Carbon dioxide remains the main cause of long-term warming. But this is also the time to prioritize reducing methane gas,” the UN said Secretary General Antonio Guterres. “Aggressive mowing can produce marked temperature reductions within a generation.”

More than 60 percent of methane emissions come from human activities, primarily agriculture, fossil fuels, and waste, with the fossil fuel sector offering the fastest and most cost-effective opportunity to reduce emissions.

Use of warnings

UNEP Methane Warning and Response System (MARS). uses satellite data to identify large methane leaks in near real-time and alert governments and operators so they can investigate and fix them.

Since launching in 2023, the system has issued more than 5,000 alerts in 33 countries, helping trigger more than 40 verified fixes.

In Algeria, one alert led to the repair of a decades-old leak, and provided climate benefits comparable to taking half a million cars off the road each year.

Despite the technology’s success, only 13 percent of alerts currently receive a response from the country or operator that received the notification.

“Now we can see methane pollution as it occurs, almost in real-time, from space” said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. “With this ability, inaction is not a mistake – it is a choice.”

Actions are faster and bolder

This expanded program will strengthen technical support for governments, increase access to methane emissions data, and help countries build capacity to investigate and respond more quickly.

“Reducing methane emissions is one of the most important steps we can take to tackle climate change – and one of the simplest and most cost-effective.said Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies who also serves as UN Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions.

“We have the data we need to stop methane leaks, and now we’re helping countries turn that data into faster, bolder action” he added.

Stronger commitment from governments and operators is critical to closing the response gap, and the efforts announced today are intended to ensure countries can seize this opportunity to slow the rate of climate change.