New Global Methane Pledge Champions Call for Accelerated Action on Methane to Keep 1.5°C Within Reach

New York, 20 September 2023 — Canada, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Germany, Japan, and Nigeria have joined the United States and the European Union as Champions of the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) to advocate for accelerated methane action to achieve the Pledge – to reduce global anthropogenic methane emissions by at least 30 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030.

The group of Champions—already leaders in methane reduction efforts—are uniting to support and galvanise further progress by the 150 countries and other partners participating in the Global Methane Pledge. As Champions, they will continue to spur domestic action in their respective countries.  

“Canada is proud to be among other leaders taking charge to reduce methane emissions at home and abroad.  This year’s extreme weather is a stark reminder why we need to rapidly reduce emissions. As a Champion of the Global Methane Pledge, the Government of Canada is committed to the Pledge’s goal of a 30 per cent methane emissions reduction by 2030 - and we are going further and faster, with current estimates that we will achieve a reduction of 35 per cent by 2030", underlined Catherine Stewart, Canada’s Ambassador for Climate Change.

“Consistent with its usual stance in calling for global action to aggressively reduce greenhouse gases to achieve our target of 1.5 degrees, the Federated States of Micronesia is excited to join GMP Champions in advocating for another aggressive GHG-reduction initiative which, in this case, targets methane emissions reduction due its high global warming potential.” highlighted Ms. Cynthia H. Ehmes, Acting Secretary for the FSM Department of Environment, Climate Change and Emergency Management (DECEM).

“Reducing methane emissions is critical on our pathways toward the 1.5°C goal. Japan reduced its methane emissions by 38 per cent in FY2021 from FY1990 levels. Every country should reduce methane emissions in a transparent manner by including methane as a target for emission reductions. Japan will continue to work on the development of methane emission reduction technologies and contribute to the global reduction of methane emissions,” said Takeshi Akahori, Japan’s Ambassador, Assistant Minister for Global Issues.

“The National Climate Change Council (NCCC) is taking a “whole-of-government” approach by expanding methane mitigation across the agriculture and waste sectors through the collaborative support of its partner government institutions Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigeria LNG, NNPCL, Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, etc. and development agencies like Clean Air Task Force (CATF), Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the EU-Delegation,” declared Dr. Salisu Dahiru, Director General of the National Climate Change Council (NCCC) of Nigeria.

GMP conveners and partners welcomed this new step for the Global Methane Pledge:

Tibor Stelbaczky, EU Principal Adviser on Energy Diplomacy, noted: “Over the last 2-3 years, tackling methane emissions has risen – rightly – from relative obscurity to one of the central components of climate action. Expanding the group of GMP Champions fits into this process and is great news for turning ambition into real on-the-ground implementation. The EU looks forward to working with the new Champions in reaching our common goals.”

“The United States is delighted to welcome long-time methane advocates, Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Germany, Japan, and Nigeria, as GMP Champions. We look forward to working together to continue to advance methane action as the fastest way to reduce dangerous near-term warming,” underlined Rick Duke, U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Climate.

Martina Otto, Head of the CCAC Secretariat, said: “The CCAC is glad that our partners, Canada, Federated States of Micronesia, Germany, Japan, and Nigeria, are continuing to show their support for reducing methane. We look forward to working with the group of Champions and continuing our efforts as one of the core implementers of the GMP.”

“UNEP is pleased to see increased leadership from GMP countries and looks forward to working with GMP Champions in promoting actions that can turn ambition into actual emissions reductions. UNEP’s IMEO will continue to support those efforts through its open, reliable, and actionable data,” highlighted Manfredi Caltagirone, Head of UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory.

About the Global Methane Pledge

The Global Methane Pledge (GMP) was launched by President Biden and President von der Leyen at COP26 in 2021 and has now been endorsed by 150 countries who have agreed to take voluntary actions to contribute to a collective effort to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30 per cent from 2020 levels by 2030.  As underscored in recent assessments by the IPCC, the UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), and the International Energy Agency, achieving this 30 per cent reduction is critical for keeping a 1.5°C future within reach and will deliver vital co-benefits, preventing hundreds of thousands of premature deaths and hospital admissions, boosting global crop yields by 15 million tonnes, and preventing the loss of 60 billion work hours associated with heat exposure. More information on recent Global Methane Pledge accomplishments can be found on the Global Methane Pledge website and the GMP COP27 fact sheet. Read more on each of the Champion’s activities on the CCAC website.