Methane, the potent yet often overlooked greenhouse gas, is now receiving greater attention from scientists and policymakers as its impact on climate change becomes impossible to ignore. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), methane emissions from human activities are responsible for approximately one-third of the warming the planet has already experienced. These emissions, coming mainly from fossil fuel operations, agriculture, and waste, pose a critical yet addressable challenge.

UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) has played a central role in this effort. By combining satellite monitoring, company-reported data, and scientific field studies, IMEO’s “An Eye on Methane” series underscores how measurement and transparency can turn the tide on this climate threat. The data-driven approach emphasizes that many large methane leaks are technically simple to fix—but only if the information is acted upon.

Reducing methane offers one of the fastest routes to slowing near-term warming. Unlike carbon dioxide, which remains in the atmosphere for centuries, methane expires in about a decade. This means that cutting methane can yield quick climate relief and buy precious time as the world transitions away from fossil fuels. Yet despite pledges by more than 150 countries under the Global Methane Pledge, implementation remains weak and many leaks go unaddressed.

The story of methane is still one of opportunity. On one hand, satellite-based systems like UNEP’s Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) have identified major emissions events, enabling more rapid intervention. On the other hand, the failure to act swiftly on these alerts shows that many governments and companies treat transparency more as a goal than a catalyst. Unless that changes, the window for limiting warming to safe levels will continue to shrink.

The message from UNEP is clear: tackling methane isn’t just beneficial—it’s urgent. Cleaning up methane emissions is not only about climate—it’s about air quality, ecosystem health, and human wellbeing. As the world prepares for its next round of climate targets, methane must move from the sidelines to the front of the agenda.