UN chief: Targeting methane is a climate battle ‘we can win’

UN chief: Targeting methane is a climate battle ‘we can win’

UN chief - As the world races to curb rising temperatures, the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, emphasized that addressing methane emissions is critical to the fight against climate change. Speaking at the opening of London Climate Action Week, which runs from 20 to 28 June, he highlighted that methane—a potent greenhouse gas—accounts for roughly one-third of global warming emissions. “This is a battle we can win,” he stated, urging immediate and coordinated action to tackle the issue.

Climate Crisis Accelerates, 1.5°C Threshold in Sight

“The climate crisis is accelerating, and we are now on course to overshoot the 1.5°C limit in the coming years,” Guterres said to attendees at the event focused on super-pollutants. His remarks underscored the urgency of reducing emissions, particularly from sources like fossil fuels, to prevent irreversible damage.

The UN chief stressed that slowing the planet’s warming trajectory hinges on halting the release of super-pollutants, which are responsible for nearly half of the global warming observed so far. Methane, in particular, stands out due to its high potency and short atmospheric lifespan compared to carbon dioxide.

Swift Global Action Required

Guterres argued that cutting methane emissions is the most effective way to cool the planet rapidly. “Reducing methane is a fight we can win and benefit from in our own time,” he declared, adding that the goal is to minimize the temperature overshoot and reverse the trend. He called for an accelerated transition away from fossil fuels, stating that this shift must begin immediately to ensure measurable progress.

“Cutting methane is the single fastest brake we can pull on a warming planet,” Guterres said, pointing to the newly launched global Call to Action on Methane. The initiative aims to galvanize international efforts to reduce emissions, leveraging existing technologies to eliminate up to 70% of methane from oil and gas operations without significant cost.

Advances in satellite technology, he noted, allow for real-time monitoring of methane leaks, enabling swift detection and correction. This capability, combined with updated industrial practices, could revolutionize how countries track and mitigate the gas’s impact.

Three Strategic Steps for Global Reduction

To achieve these targets, Guterres outlined three actionable measures. First, he called for the identification and repair of every methane leak, alongside the elimination of routine flaring and cold venting in energy production. Second, adopting a science-based global methane standard would establish a benchmark for emissions reduction. Third, creating a market for nearly zero-methane energy would incentivize cleaner alternatives. “Countries like Norway have already shown the way,” he said. “If every producer matched its standards, methane from oil and gas would fall by 90%.”

These steps, he argued, are essential to reining in methane’s role as a driver of climate change. The gas, which is invisible and odorless, is a major component of natural gas and remains a key challenge in achieving sustainable energy systems. Unlike CO₂, which lingers in the atmosphere for centuries, methane’s shorter lifespan means that reductions can yield quicker results.

Global Cooperation and Financial Support

Guterres also stressed the need for financial aid to support developing nations in their climate efforts. “Developing countries require funding, technology, and capacity to accelerate action in agriculture, waste management, and fossil fuel sectors,” he said. This assistance, he claimed, is vital for ensuring equitable progress in the global fight against climate change.

“This is also a test of climate solidarity,” the UN leader declared, vowing that the UN would support all nations ready to act. He pointed to the recent success of international efforts to heal the ozone layer and phase out leaded petrol as models for current methane reduction initiatives.

The UN chief noted that the age of voluntary action is over, and that collective responsibility must now take precedence. “The world must act on methane pollution,” he said, highlighting the importance of systemic change rather than individual efforts.

Adaptation as a Climate Justice Imperative

At a concurrent financing for development forum in London, Guterres expanded on the need for adaptive strategies. He framed adaptation as both a matter of justice and an economic necessity, emphasizing that “climate adaptation is no longer about preparing for a distant future.” Instead, it is about managing risks as they arise, given the current reality of extreme weather events.

“It’s about managing risks in real time as the searing heat now gripping London and far beyond makes unmistakably clear our climate is changing faster than our systems, infrastructure, and institutions can handle,” Guterres said. The World Meteorological Organization confirmed that the past 11 years have been the hottest on record, signaling a new era of climate risk.

This accelerated pace of change, he warned, demands urgent investment to build resilience. “Adaptation is a matter of climate justice while also being an economic necessity and development and security imperative,” he added.

Collaborative Financing and Policy Frameworks

Guterres urged multilateral development banks, climate funds, and donors to collaborate and unlock financing for developing countries. “Multilateral development banks, climate funds, donors, insurers, and development partners must join forces to put pre-arranged finance within reach of developing nations,” he said. This financial support, he argued, would enable nations to implement sustainable practices and infrastructure upgrades.

He concluded by calling on all stakeholders to prioritize resilience. “Together, let’s ensure that resilience becomes the foundation for a safer, more secure, and more sustainable future,” Guterres said. “Resources must be made available to turn these goals into reality.” The UN leader’s message echoed the urgency of the climate emergency, urging a unified response to mitigate its worst effects.

With the climate crisis intensifying, the focus on methane reduction remains central to global efforts. Guterres’s remarks at London Climate Action Week served as a rallying call for immediate action, emphasizing that the tools to combat this challenge are already available. The success of past environmental agreements offers hope, but the stakes have never been higher. As temperatures rise and the impacts of climate change become more severe, the world must unite to act decisively on methane and other super-pollutants.