A new report from the Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG) warns that without rapid action to cut methane – one of the most powerful and overlooked greenhouse gases – the world could lock in up to 0.3°C of additional warming this decade. That difference could determine whether climate impacts stay within a manageable range or push humanity beyond its capacity to adapt.
Methane has caused nearly half of global warming since the Industrial Revolution. But unlike CO₂, which lingers for centuries, methane lasts just over a decade. In that short time, it is more than 80 times more powerful.
This creates a limited timeframe for tackling methane in our atmosphere before its impacts are irreversible, and the world loses its last chance to slow near-term warming.
However, this also makes methane abatement the fastest and most immediately actionable way to slow heating this decade, delivering short-term progress whilst other longer-term climate threats continue to be addressed. The report highlights proven, low-cost solutions across energy, agriculture and waste that could cut global methane emissions by up to 45% by 2030.
These measures would not only slow dangerous warming, but also reduce respiratory illness, protect harvests and food supplies, and safeguard vulnerable communities from worsening climate impacts - delivering immediate and long-lasting benefits for lives and livelihoods.
The report’s recommendations include:
Together, these interventions provide decision-makers with a clear roadmap to scale proven solutions, delivering near-term relief while buying time for the longer, non-negotiable task of cutting CO₂ to net zero.
Sir David King, Chair of CCAG said: “Methane is the emergency brake on climate heating that we can pull right now. It is more than 80 times more powerful than CO₂, yet is still treated as an afterthought. That blind spot is costing us precious time. The solutions are here, they are affordable, and they deliver immediate benefits for health, food security, and livelihoods. What’s missing is political will. This report shows leaders exactly how to pull the brake. If we fail to act now, we will lose our last real chance to slow near-term warming.”
Methane abatement is not a silver bullet. It is a critical part of a holistic climate strategy that must also include deep emissions reductions, large-scale removal of greenhouse gases, urgent action to repair ecosystems, and investments in resilience for communities. Together, these four pillars form CCAG’s 4R Planet framework, the science-based plan to steer the world back from climate overshoot.
Read the full report here.
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