New CCAC and CATF partnership to support 20 countries in cutting energy sector methane emissions, advancing goals of Global Methane Pledge
Today, at New York Climate Week, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and Clean Air Task Force (CATF) announced the launch of the Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme (FFRP), supporting low- and middle-income governments in taking immediate action to reduce methane emissions from their oil, gas, and coal sectors.
The FFRP will provide targeted support to up to 20 governments eligible for official development assistance from mid-2024 to mid-2027. This will include a streamlined project approval process that allows CCAC and CATF experts to more quickly address regulatory and capacity gaps and help countries build the infrastructure needed for rapid action on methane emissions.
“Methane reductions in the fossil fuel sector are amongst the cheapest and most immediate to implement. Regulation and better enforcement are critical to realizing these emission reductions so critical to prevent devastating climate tipping points,” said Martina Otto, Head of the CCAC Secretariat. “The launch of FFRP today will support countries to put in place regulations and support enforcement capacity, and working closely with CATF, this programme will respond to country requests to take swift and impactful action that generates clean air and climate benefits, protecting both people and planet.”
“Cutting methane pollution is the most effective strategy to bend the curve on climate change in our lifetimes, and CATF is proud of its ongoing work with CCAC in this vital effort,” said Jonathan Banks, Global Director for Methane Pollution Prevention at CATF. “Through our collaboration, we’ve so far been able to empower policymakers and regulators in Nigeria, Mexico, Colombia, Iraq, and others to identify and begin addressing sources of this pollutant in their energy sectors. Thanks to FFRP, we can greatly expand the speed and scope of our work to reach even more countries eager to fulfill their commitments to the Global Methane Pledge and secure public health and climate benefits for their citizens.”
Despite progress on awareness and ambition around methane, emissions continue to rise around the world — with low- and middle-income countries accounting for two-thirds of the top methane emitters in the energy sector. Those countries require robust regulatory frameworks and a significant increase in investment to mitigate methane emissions from fossil fuel production. They’ll need strong support, including financial, from developed countries leading on methane reductions to be able to get there. Studies have shown that only with targeted actions to tackle methane emissions from the energy sector, in combination with efforts to decarbonize the energy system, will countries be able to drive down emissions fast enough to meet climate targets and slow the rapidly increasing rate of warming. This includes eliminating routine venting and flaring and repairing methane leaks.
As part of the FFRP process, each country support project will be initiated by a country request, following a rigorous assessment, approval, and monitoring process for each project. Projects will include tailored support for capacity building, regulatory framework development and implementation, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) guidelines, and compliance. As the FFRP unfolds over the next three years, we will see national and regional capacity development in 20 countries where there is high mitigation potential, contributing significantly to the goals of the GMP.
The FFRP will be powered by the CCAC Trust Fund, and the CCAC welcomes targeted contributions from donor governments and philanthropic bodies to support this initiative from 2025-2027. It will not provide funding or direct support to private sector stakeholders in the fossil fuel sector, nor will it provide funding support which may result in new or extended fossil fuel operations.
Press Contact
Steve Reyes, Communication Manager, [email protected], +1 562-916-6463
About the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
The UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is a partnership of over 182 governments, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations. It works to reduce powerful but short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) – methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone – that drive both climate change and air pollution. It aims to connect ambitious agenda setting with targeted mitigation action within countries and sectors. Robust science and analysis underpin its efforts and bolstered by its trust fund, the CCAC has given rise to high-level political commitment, in-country support, and a range of tools that support the case for action and implementation.
About Clean Air Task Force (CATF)
Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With more than 25 years of internationally recognized expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world. Visit catf.us and follow @cleanaircatf.
