Methane: the fastest lever we have to slow the climate crisis

The world is at a crossroads. Global challenges are mounting while the systems designed to manage them are faltering. Populism thrives, diplomacy is fraying, and governments are paralysed by domestic upheaval. The turbulence on display at this year’s UN General Assembly is emblematic of the political moment we are in.

But while the politics wavers, the science is unrelenting. From destabilising ice loss in Antarctica to record-breaking global temperatures, we are already beyond safe climate boundaries. Overshoot is no longer a distant threat - it’s now a reality we’re living in. 

Reaching net zero carbon dioxide remains the defining challenge of our age. Without it, the world has no viable future. But we also need to face another truth: cutting CO₂ alone won’t be enough.

Methane is responsible for over a third of warming the world has experienced to date. It’s over 80 times more powerful than CO₂ - but it doesn’t last as long in the atmosphere. That’s crucial.

In practical terms, that means action on methane today could slow heating within decades - not generations. In fact, reducing emissions by 45% this decade could avoid around  0.3°C of warming. And in a world where every fraction matters, that could be the difference between adaptation and collapse. Few actions in climate policy carry such potential. 

Methane cuts alone won’t fix the climate crisis. We still need to reduce all greenhouse gases to net zero, remove the excess already in the atmosphere, restore collapsing ecosystems, and build resilience everywhere.

But methane abatement is the fastest and most affordable lever we have in this decisive decade. Many low-cost - even profitable - solutions are already available. The more evidence we gather, the clearer the case becomes: we can act now, and it will pay off quickly. 

But while the technology is here, the challenge is not simple. 

Every sector, especially energy, agriculture, and waste, brings its own complexities. 

For example, tackling leaks in the energy system requires rigorous regulation and enforcement and reducing emissions from livestock and rice demands sensitive reforms that protect farmer livelihoods. When it comes to waste, improving these systems calls for infrastructure, finance and behaviour change. 

Yet each also delivers powerful co-benefits: cleaner air, healthier diets, stronger harvests and safer, cleaner cities. 

If we fail to act across all three areas, those already most vulnerable will suffer most - trapped in cycles of failed crops, food insecurity and intensifying heat stress.

A fair approach means major emitters must move fastest, while developing and climate-vulnerable regions receive the support they need - finance, technology, and partnerships that ensure they benefit from this transition rather than bear its costs.

The solutions are here. The benefits are clear. What’s needed now is focus, fairness, and the political courage to act.

Learn more about methane’s impacts and our recommendations for action in our latest report, here. 

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