‘Wake-up call’: methane emissions from Australian coalmines more than double official estimates, report finds

‘Once again that methane emissions from Australia’s coal sector remain drastically underreported,’ methane analyst Dr Sabina Assan said. Photograph: Rob Griffith/AP

Emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane from Australian coalmines are more than double official government estimates reported to the UN, according to a new International Energy Agency report.

Climate and energy analysts said the report had again highlighted an “enormous gap” in the country’s reported methane emissions from coalmines and should serve as a wake-up call.