While countries face daunting political challenges in the race against time to fulfill the climate pledges made at COP26 in Glasgow, some policy initiatives are easier than others. Cutting methane emissions by reducing wasteful flaring of natural gas stands out as an immediate political opportunity and a straightforward means to reduce atmospheric emissions.

Tackling methane is especially significant since doing so meets other development priorities, such as generating government revenue (by taxing methane emissions), improving health (by reducing air pollution), and helping deliver greater energy access (by using rather than wasting the gas).

Moreover, given the slow pace at which climate finance is being pledged for developing countries, the relatively small initial costs and effort involved in reducing methane emissions by wasting less gas should make it an attractive opportunity for the private sector, and for donors and oil- and gas-producing countries looking for quick wins before the Sharm El-Sheikh COP27 meeting in November 2022. As the International Energy Agency notes, “reducing methane emissions from oil and gas operations is among ‘the lowest of the low hanging fruit’ for mitigating climate change.”

Report by the Center for Global Development