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This briefing note by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) examines the role of agricultural subsidies in driving greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It analyzes the sources of emissions within the agricultural sector, the regional variations in emission intensities, and provides policy recommendations for reforming subsidies to align with climate goals while balancing food security and livelihoods.

This submission by Ember to the Clean Energy Regulator argues that 'Method 2' for reporting fugitive methane emissions from Australian coal mines is scientifically inadequate and leads to significant under-reporting. The document highlights a growing gap between increasing coal production and stagnant or declining reported emissions, particularly in New South Wales. Ember recommends urgent reforms, including mandated regular updates to emission factors, increased borehole density, independent third-party verification, and the integration of satellite-based atmospheric monitoring to ensure the integrity of Australia's national emissions inventory.

A report by Ember and Kayrros using TROPOMI satellite observations to estimate fugitive methane emissions from coal mining clusters in Australia, finding that satellite-derived emissions are significantly higher than official national and state-level reports.

This report by Ember analyzes coal mine methane (CMM) emissions in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. It compares officially reported fugitive emissions with satellite-based estimates and airborne measurements, finding that actual emissions in both states are significantly higher than reported, with particularly large discrepancies noted for surface mines in Queensland and overall totals in New South Wales.

This report examines the discrepancy between satellite-observed methane emissions and company-led estimates from open-cut coal mines in Australia, specifically focusing on the impact of shifting from state-based (Method 1) to site-specific (Method 2) emissions accounting in New South Wales.

A report by Ember using TROPOMI satellite data and wind-rotation methods reveals that fugitive methane emissions from Australian coal mines are significantly higher than officially reported. The analysis, covering six mining clusters, found that emissions in 2020 were at least 40% higher than national reports, with particularly severe underreporting in New South Wales.

A report by Ember examines a shift in how fugitive methane emissions from open-cut coal mines in Australia are reported, moving from state-based averages (Method 1) to site-specific estimates (Method 2). The report finds that this accounting shift has led to a significant decrease in reported emissions, particularly in New South Wales, creating a mismatch between regulator-compiled averages and operator-reported estimates.

This report by Ember examines the transition in Australia's coal industry from underground to open-cut mining between 1990 and 2022, highlighting a growing reliance on estimated rather than measured fugitive emissions data.

This report by Ember examines the discrepancy between Australia's increasing coal production and its decreasing reported fugitive emissions, attributing the trend to the closure of gassy underground mines and changes in estimation methods for open-cut mining.

The report examines the role of underground coal mine closures in reducing fugitive methane emissions in Australia. While the closure of 'super-emitting' mines has historically driven significant emissions decreases, new project expansions and license extensions threaten to reverse these gains and undermine national and state climate targets.

This report by Ember examines the 'paradox' of Australia's coal industry, where coal production increased by 170% between 1990 and 2022 while reported fugitive emissions remained nearly flat. The report attributes this trend to the closure of high-emitting underground mines and a shift toward open-cut mining, which relies on estimated rather than measured emissions. It warns that a transition to site-specific reporting methods has significantly lowered reported emissions, particularly in New South Wales, and that proposed mine expansions could reverse recent emissions declines.

This briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative analyzes the landscape of public incentives for methane abatement in Brazilian agriculture. It evaluates various federal policies, financial instruments, and climate commitments, concluding that while Brazil has established broad sustainable agriculture frameworks, it lacks targeted incentives specifically designed to reduce methane emissions in the livestock sector.

This report by Ember and the Clean Air Task Force examines how environmental conditions—specifically cloud cover, terrain roughness, solar elevation, surface brightness, and wind speed—limit the effectiveness of satellite-based methane monitoring. It highlights that approximately 30% of global coal, oil, and gas extraction infrastructure is located in regions where these factors make satellite observation difficult, necessitating a multi-tiered observation strategy that integrates space-based data with aircraft, drones, and ground-based sensors.

This report by Ember and the Clean Air Task Force examines how environmental factors—including cloud cover, terrain, solar elevation, surface brightness, and wind speed—limit the effectiveness of satellite-based methane monitoring. It finds that approximately 30% of global upstream coal, oil, and gas infrastructure is located in regions where these conditions hinder consistent data collection, necessitating a tiered observation system that combines satellites with local measurement technologies.

This report by Ember and the Clean Air Task Force examines how environmental factors—including cloud cover, terrain roughness, sun elevation, surface brightness, and wind speed—limit the efficacy of satellite-based methane monitoring. It highlights that approximately 30% of global upstream coal and oil and gas infrastructure is located in regions where these conditions make spaceborne observations challenging, necessitating a multi-tiered observing system that integrates satellites with near-ground measurement technologies.

This report describes a 'waste clinic' conducted by RMI's Waste Methane Initiative (WMI) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) for municipal officials in Uttar Pradesh, India. The clinic used peer-to-peer exchange and expert guidance to diagnose solid waste management (SWM) challenges and develop actionable work plans across four priority areas: data collection, source segregation, organic waste treatment, and disposal.

This case study describes how Orange County Waste & Recycling (OCWR) is reducing methane emissions through a dual strategy of organic waste diversion via composting and the implementation of a 'Smart Landfill Program' (SLP) utilizing automation, drones, and robotic sensors.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted comments on January 13, 2025, regarding the Department of Water and Sanitation's (DWS) proposed regulations for water use in onshore hydrocarbon exploration and production, specifically hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and underground coal gasification (UCG). The CER argues that the regulations are insufficient to protect water resources, fail to adequately address climate change and methane leakage, and lack robust compliance monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. They specifically highlight the risks to the water-scarce Karoo region and call for more stringent buffer zones, longer-term monitoring of well integrity, and mandatory community development provisions.

The Free State Environmental Justice Network (FSEJN) has filed an appeal to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment to set aside an environmental authorisation (EA) granted on 23 June 2025 to Afro Energy (Pty) Ltd. The EA allows for the exploration of conventional natural gas across approximately 240,000 hectares in the Free State and Mpumalanga provinces. FSEJN argues that the decision by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) was unlawful, irrational, and failed to adequately assess climate, air quality, geohydrological, and socio-economic impacts, while also neglecting meaningful public participation.

A Global Energy Monitor (GEM) report identifies 23 methane 'super-emitter' events at eight coal mines across Australia, China, Colombia, and Mexico between January 1, 2023, and April 1, 2024. Using NASA EMIT sensor data, the analysis links satellite-detected plumes to specific mine operators, highlighting a lack of global incentives for methane mitigation.