Emissions./PHOTO; Pexel
UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions Michael R. Bloomberg has announced a $100 million investment to accelerate efforts to cut methane emissions, one of the most powerful greenhouse gases driving global warming.
The initiative, backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies, aims to build a coordinated global system to detect, report, and repair methane leaks.
It will expand satellite monitoring, strengthen government and industry partnerships, and enhance public access to emissions data, a move expected to bring immediate environmental and health benefits while reducing economic waste in the energy sector.
“We know how to measure methane, and we know how to stop it. What’s needed now is the infrastructure to do it everywhere,” Bloomberg said.
“Cutting methane is one of the most powerful and cost-effective ways we can slow global warming this decade, and this investment helps build the system to deliver results, fast.”
Methane: A Hidden but Potent Threat
Methane has over 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide, making it one of the most dangerous yet under-addressed greenhouse gases.
Scientists estimate that reducing global methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030 could have the same impact as removing 10 gigatons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to shutting down more than 2,000 coal-fired power plants.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the investment as a vital step toward climate transparency and accountability.
“Methane, one of the most potent heat-trapping gases, is too often hidden in plain sight. Drastic cuts this decade are essential and most can be achieved quickly and cheaply,” said Guterres.
“This initiative can help usher in a new era of transparency and accountability. We have the technologies. What we need now is maximum ambition, acceleration, and cooperation to keep 1.5°C in reach.”
A Global Effort with Local Impact
The new program will focus on improving satellite surveillance, speeding up government response to leaks, and ensuring the public has access to real-time data on emissions.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the announcement, calling it a decisive front in the global climate fight.
“Ten years on from the Paris Agreement, we now have the technology and the international momentum to act quickly and effectively against coal and methane, the decisive front in the battle against climate change,” Macron said.
Bloomberg’s initiative will work through a coalition of partners, including Carbon Mapper, the Global Methane Hub, and the UN Environment Programme’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO).
The Next Phase of Work
The next phase of work will:
Expand global coverage: Activate data from a growing constellation of methane-tracking satellites, which will deliver enhanced global coverage and high-resolution data of methane leaks.
Scale up global alert networks to speed response: Dedicated methane action networks will close the “last mile” between data and action. This investment will enhance efforts to achieve methane reduction outcomes, including: direct engagement with companies, utilities, and government regulators on oil, gas, and coal methane super-emitters; tracking repair efforts; and maintaining publicly accessible data to ensure a rapid response and transparency.
Accelerate government partnerships and industry action: Expand and strengthen collaboration with governments and partner organizations across nine major methane-emitting countries – including Australia, Indonesia, Mexico, and Nigeria – as well as nine key U.S. states, including California, Texas, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. These efforts will focus on advancing policy design, implementation, and accountability, and also help improve standards.
Build global capacity and technical expertise: Strengthen the ability of governments, journalists, civil society, and facility operators to use and integrate remote-sensing emissions data to drive reductions in methane emissions. This includes expanding training programs, educational tools, and research and analysis that connect super-emitter data to practical applications and measurable outcomes, empowering stakeholders worldwide.
Satellites Turning Data into Action
The initiative builds on Bloomberg Philanthropies’ earlier investments in global methane monitoring.
Since 2019, Bloomberg Philanthropies has invested $172 million in global methane reduction, supporting partnerships with the Environmental Defense Fund, the International Energy Agency, and the Rocky Mountain Institute.
The new $100 million commitment expands that effort by enhancing cooperation between Carbon Mapper and IMEO, ensuring that shared data from methane-tracking satellites drives coordinated global action.
By combining technology with transparency and strong policy design, the initiative aims to demonstrate that meaningful methane reductions are achievable within years — not decades.
The Broader Climate Context
Methane reduction is emerging as one of the most direct, cost-effective tools to limit global warming in the near term. While CO₂ remains the main long-term driver of climate change, methane’s shorter lifespan means cutting it can deliver immediate cooling effects.
This approach aligns with broader UN goals to keep global temperature rise below 1.5°C and prevent worsening climate-related disasters.
Bloomberg’s methane initiative underscores a growing shift from climate pledges to measurable outcomes. It focuses on rapid implementation, international collaboration, and data-driven accountability, key ingredients for real progress this decade.
If successful, the initiative could become a blueprint for global methane management, turning invisible emissions into visible action and setting the pace for urgent, achievable climate solutions.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health.
