What the King saw: How methane action can slow warming in our lifetimes

The policy brief emphasizes that cutting methane emissions can slow the rate of warming within current lifetimes because methane has a shorter atmospheric lifespan than carbon dioxide. It highlights the use of optical gas imaging to identify invisible leaks and argues that the fossil fuel industry wastes 200 billion cubic meters of gas annually through leaks and flaring. The document advocates for the EU Methane Regulation's application to imports to potentially cut global oil and gas methane emissions by 30 per cent. Additionally, it promotes the Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme (FFRP), which assists low- and middle-income countries in establishing emissions rules, with Egypt, Brazil, and Bosnia and Herzegovina recently joining the initiative.

• Methane is responsible for nearly one third of current global warming, but because it persists in the atmosphere for a shorter duration than carbon dioxide, reducing its emissions can slow warming within current lifetimes.
• The global fossil fuel system wastes approximately 200 billion cubic meters of gas every year through flaring and methane leaks, a volume roughly double the annual liquefied natural gas exports of Qatar.
• The EU Methane Regulation, which mandates that fossil fuel companies measure, report, and reduce emissions including those from imported fuels, has the potential to reduce global oil and gas methane emissions by up to 30 per cent.
• The Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme (FFRP), launched in 2024 with UK government support, provides low- and middle-income countries with technical assistance—including legal drafting and regulator training—to turn methane commitments into enforceable rules. Egypt, Brazil, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are new participants in a programme aiming to support up to 20 developing-country governments.
• Effective implementation across eligible national and subnational programmes is estimated to prevent roughly 13.4 million tonnes of methane emissions annually by 2030.

APA

Firth, S. (2026). What the King saw: How methane action can slow warming in our lifetimes. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2026/07/what-the-king-saw-how-methane-action-can-slow-warming-in-our-lifetimes/

Chicago

Firth, Sammie. What the King saw: How methane action can slow warming in our lifetimes. Clean Air Task Force, 2026. https://www.catf.us/2026/07/what-the-king-saw-how-methane-action-can-slow-warming-in-our-lifetimes/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Firth |first1=Sammie |title=What the King saw: How methane action can slow warming in our lifetimes |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=9 July 2026 |url=https://www.catf.us/2026/07/what-the-king-saw-how-methane-action-can-slow-warming-in-our-lifetimes/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{firth2026what, author = {Firth, Sammie}, title = {{What the King saw: How methane action can slow warming in our lifetimes}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2026}, month = jul, url = {https://www.catf.us/2026/07/what-the-king-saw-how-methane-action-can-slow-warming-in-our-lifetimes/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }