Seizing the methane opportunity: Key outcomes and commitments from COP29

With COP29 now behind us, the global community must continue to seize the immense opportunity—and embrace the responsibility—to address methane pollution. This year’s climate summit brought a renewed focus on the critical role of methane reductions, underscoring significant progress while highlighting areas where further action is needed to meet global climate goals.  

Methane, the potent yet short-lived greenhouse gas responsible for nearly half a degree of current warming, continues to offer one of the clearest pathways to near-term climate action. With over 80 times the warming potential of CO₂ and readily available solutions across the fossil fuel, agriculture, and waste sectors, cutting methane emissions is an essential strategy to slow climate change within our lifetimes. 

COP29 saw new commitments, partnerships, and funding that build on the momentum of the Global Methane Pledge launched at COP26. Advances in methane monitoring technologies, investments in emission-reduction solutions, and collaborative efforts across sectors have demonstrated that progress is possible. In this blog, we evaluate major outcomes of COP29 and spotlight key successes, both for CATF and the international community. 

CATF on the ground: Providing methane expertise across key sectors 

CATF played a pivotal role at COP29, contributing methane expertise across multiple sectors and platforms and organizing events for collaboration. One of the most significant moments was the Global Methane Pledge Ministerial, which CATF co-hosted with the Office of the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. Leaders, like U.S. Climate Envoy John Podesta and Zulfiya Suleimenova, the special advisor to the President of Kazakhstan, among many others discussed the progress of the Global Methane Pledge in driving methane mitigation efforts, outlined key actions to advance its goals, and reaffirmed their commitment to reducing methane emissions by 30% by 2030.  

Elsewhere in Baku, CATF experts, including Zitely Tzompa Sosa, collaborated with colleagues from the Clean Air Fund and Clean Air Institute to launch a new policy brief highlighting tropospheric ozone—an often-overlooked but critical super pollutant. Super pollutants like tropospheric ozone contribute to nearly half of current global warming. The brief emphasizes that reducing tropospheric ozone offers policymakers a triple win: addressing climate change, improving air quality, and enhancing food security. 

Another key highlight was CATF’s panel on the Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme (FFRP), a new global initiative led by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and implemented in collaboration with CATF to reduce methane emissions from the energy sector. The panel showcased the FFRP’s strategy and provided an overview of services available to help countries take meaningful action on methane reduction. Featuring contributions from country partners, the discussion highlighted the progress of ongoing partnerships and their critical role in advancing the initiative. Critically, the event coincided with a major announcement by UK Secretary of State Ed Miliband, who committed £5 million ($6.5 million) in new funding to support the CCAC’s Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme. 

Governments and companies push forward on methane regulations and reductions in the energy sector 

Governments and companies made significant strides at COP29 to strengthen methane regulations and drive reductions, particularly in the energy sector: 

• China unveiled new emissions standards for coalbed methane, signaling its intent to tackle methane from coal mining operations. 

• The EU announced its Methane Abatement Partnership Roadmap, providing a collaborative framework for industry and regulators to reduce emissions from oil and gas infrastructure. 

• Brazil, set to host COP30 next year, outlined strategies to address methane from fossil fuels and agriculture under its National Climate Change Plan. 

• Kazakhstan committed to finalizing regulatory acts on methane, setting a precedent for Central Asia, and an example for how countries can swiftly transition from methane mitigation underdogs to a leaders.  

These developments reflect growing recognition that robust regulations are critical to achieving climate goals. CATF continues to work closely with stakeholders to support the adoption and implementation of such frameworks. 

New Global Methane Pledge signatories and funding to combat methane 

Over the last three years, more than $2 billion in funding has been mobilized for methane mitigation, with $500 million announced in 2024 alone. Notable contributions at COP29 included: 

• The European Commission’s $114 million initiative, complemented by efforts from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). 

• USAID’s $22.15 million commitment to advance methane abatement technologies in developing countries. 

• The Republic of Korea’s $20 million investment in methane reduction projects. 

• Canada’s pledge of $7.5 million over four years to help reduce methane emissions in the waste sector across four Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) — Belize, Grenada, Guyana, and Saint Lucia — as well as two Pacific SIDS, Fiji and Samoa. It also allocated $2 million to support methane reduction initiatives in Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, India, Nigeria, and Serbia. 

In addition Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, and Madagascar joined the Global Methane Pledge, signaling expanding international commitment to address methane emissions. 

Countries make historic commitments on waste methane 

One of COP29’s standout achievements was the adoption of the Declaration on Reducing Methane from Organic Waste, endorsed by over 30 countries. This landmark agreement targets methane emissions from landfills, composting facilities, and other waste streams, representing a major step forward in global efforts to reduce methane emissions. 

Building on this momentum, the European Commission introduced new waste-related legislation with stricter measures to capture and utilize methane from waste. These actions reinforce the EU’s leadership in methane abatement and set a high standard for other regions to emulate. 

In Latin America and the Caribbean, countries united to announce the Declaration on Methane Abatement and Waste Management in NDCs, which commits them to incorporating waste sector improvements into their 2025 climate plans. Aligned with the global organic waste declaration, this initiative prioritizes closing landfills, improving data collection, advancing environmental justice, and utilizing innovative financing mechanisms to mitigate methane emissions. 

New funding and guidance to scale solutions for agricultural methane 

Agricultural methane gained new momentum at COP29 with the launch of the Rural Agricultural Methane Opportunities (RAMO) program by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). This flagship initiative aims to scale up methane-reducing technologies in livestock farming, leveraging up to $900 million to support innovative, low-methane agriculture projects. The program is projected to directly benefit over 3 million people and indirectly impact an additional 10 million. 

In addition, IFAD introduced the Methane Reduction Guidebook for NDC 3.0, offering practical, step-by-step strategies for countries to incorporate methane reduction measures into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This is paired with targeted technical assistance to help 17 countries design updated NDCs that address emissions from enteric fermentation and manure management. 

Looking ahead to 2025 

As we approach 2025, our focus must shift to turning COP29’s commitments into tangible action. The coming year will be pivotal for advancing data transparency, driven by the launch of two new methane-tracking satellites. These cutting-edge tools provide the international community with an unprecedented opportunity—and an urgent need—to expand data resources and ensure that methane reduction pledges are met, avoiding the pitfalls of unrealized goals seen with past zero-routine flaring commitments.  

Regulatory efforts are also expected to intensify as countries work to strengthen and implement methane policies across the energy, agriculture, and waste sectors. Achieving the ambitious goals of the Global Methane Pledge will require a balanced approach, combining voluntary initiatives with robust regulatory actions to drive meaningful progress. 

Methane reduction remains one of the fastest and most cost-effective strategies to combat climate change in our lifetimes. CATF is committed to leveraging these advancements to ensure 2025 delivers measurable outcomes, solidifying global progress toward eliminating flaring, cutting methane emissions, and creating a healthier, more sustainable planet.