Methane emissions reduction: a decarbonisation priority

Addressing methane emissions across the global energy value chain represents a critical opportunity for immediate climate impact and decarbonisation progress. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the energy sector was responsible for nearly 130 Mt of methane emissions in 2023, and further research shows that a large percentage of that total was from oil and gas assets.

Significant momentum has emerged through collaborative initiatives, including the Global Methane Pledge, new regulatory frameworks in the U.S. and EU – including Europe’s groundbreaking measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) requirements for all hydrocarbon imports – and industry-led commitments like the Oil and Gas Decarbonisation Charter. These pragmatic solutions champion an inclusive approach to emissions reduction while maintaining energy security.

However, accelerating breakthrough technologies remains essential to overcoming persistent challenges in detection accuracy, data transparency, and supply chain complexity. Cross-sector cooperation between energy companies, technology innovators, and policymakers is vital to developing robust monitoring systems and implementing effective mitigation strategies that deliver measurable, cost-efficient results.

Attendee insights:

Explore how strategic collaboration between industry and government is transforming methane management through innovative technologies and supportive policy frameworks, creating pathways to deliver energy in the most carbon-efficient way possible while ensuring continued economic growth and energy security.

Methane reduction in a divided regulatory landscape: what it means for decarbonisation

The United States and European Union have adopted distinct regulatory approaches when it comes to reducing methane emissions and advancing global decarbonisation goals. Initially bolstered by the Inflation Reduction Act and reinforced by EPA methane rules, the U.S. framework now faces headwinds following the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which scales back clean energy support and signals a broader rollback of federal climate incentives. This shift has introduced new uncertainty around the durability and direction of U.S. methane policy. Meanwhile, the EU’s Methane Regulation, implemented in 2024, enforces strict monitoring, reporting and reduction requirements that extend to fossil fuel imports, positioning the trading bloc as a leader in methane mitigation. Greater regulatory consistency would be a boon for operators, who are also dealing with non-binding and irregularly implemented agreements such as the Global Methane Pledge, data gaps, monitoring challenges, and economic and infrastructure barriers. Companies must take a pragmatic approach to compliance and investment, balancing technological solutions with policy uncertainty to keep decarbonisation goals within reach.

Attendee insights:

Explore how stakeholders are adapting strategies, managing compliance costs and trade risks, and investing in mitigation technologies to navigate diverging methane regulations across key markets.