US outlines measures to cut methane emissions by 80% in next 15 years

Michael Regan, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the US, said sharp cuts in methane are critical to stopping global heating. Photograph: Joshua A Bickel/AP

The United States has announced a major crackdown on methane emissions as part of a new effort by several countries at the Cop28 summit to curb the “super pollutant” that is responsible for turbocharging the climate crisis.

The US has used the climate conference, which is administered by the UN and being held in Dubai, to unveil new regulations it estimates will cut methane emissions from its vast oil and gas industry by 80% from levels that would be expected without the rule, a total of 58m tonnes by 2038.