
The fossil fuel industry released more than 120 million tonnes of methane in 2024, keeping emissions close to record highs, the International Energy Agency said this week. The level has barely changed since 2019, despite global pledges to cut this powerful greenhouse gas.
Methane is the second biggest driver of global warming after carbon dioxide. It traps about 80 times more heat than CO2 over a 20-year period, but breaks down faster in the atmosphere.