Satellites can now spot methane leaks in real time – but most go unfixed

Satellites can now spot major methane leaks from space within days. Yet only 13 per cent of those alerts lead to any response from the governments or companies responsible.The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) wants to close that gap. Last month it announced a new push – backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies – to help countries investigate and fix 80 per cent of major leaks detected by 2030. Currently, only 10 countries manage that.Currently, only 10 countries have reached that level of response.Methane is responsible for around one-third of today's global warming. Unlike carbon dioxide, it remains in the atmosphere for a much shorter time, meaning that reducing emissions now can deliver climate benefits within years rather than decades.“Carbon dioxide remains the principal driver of long-term warming. But it is also time to prioritize the cutting of methane,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “Aggressive cuts could produce visible temperature relief within a generation.”More than 60 per cent of methane emissions come from human activities, primarily agriculture, fossil fuels and waste, with the fossil fuel sector offering the fastest and most cost-effective opportunities for ...