Methane is a short-lived pollutant, with a powerful effect on warming over a few decades. In fact, scientists say that methane accounts for about 25 percent of today's warming.
Globally, the fossil fuel industry is the largest single source of human-caused methane emissions, with the oil and gas industry responsible for the lion’s share. Emissions are projected to rise—particularly in parts of the world where natural gas use is well established and poised for growth. The EU-28 is the second largest consumer of natural gas after the United States and is the largest importer of natural gas globally.
Yet, reducing methane across the entire global oil and gas supply chain remains the simplest, lowest cost, pollution reduction strategy that we have to slow down the rate of warming today.