Press release from the UK Methane Campaign
The UK Methane Campaign welcomes the release of the UK’s Methane Action Plan as a long-awaited and important step toward tackling a major driver of global warming. We are pleased to see the government reaffirming its commitment to reduce methane emissions and continue to play a stronger international role in encouraging other countries to follow suit.
While this marks progress, the Methane Action Plan does not go far enough. Efforts have been focused on offshore production, but it’s crucial that the onshore oil and gas sector is not left behind. Methane emissions from onshore remain a significant source of climate pollution, and ensuring that forthcoming regulations apply equally across both onshore and offshore activities will be essential if the UK is to truly lead on methane action.
Each year, millions of tonnes of dangerous methane and other toxic super-pollutants are recklessly vented, burned, and deliberately leaked into the atmosphere from onshore oil and gas sites in the UK, contributing to runaway climate change. The majority of fields use ancient, leaky equipment and are severely underregulated by permits that set no limits for methane emissions. The scope for reducing these emissions is enormous: more than 70% of current emissions could be avoided with existing technology, and around 45% could be reduced at no net cost. [1]
We need to close the loopholes in our regulatory system that enables companies to pollute by implementing stronger, enforceable rules. Clean Air Task Force’s UK Regulatory Roadmap offers a realistic framework for reducing methane from the fossil fuel sector through robust measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MMRV); prohibition of all flaring and venting; mandatory leak, detection and repair programs and by adopting a methane intensity standard for domestic and imported fuel.
By omitting these measures, the UK fundamentally under-delivers on its climate responsibility. Not only is methane a high-impact greenhouse gas, but its mitigation offers some of the quickest wins for limiting near-term warming and protecting public health and communities vulnerable to climate extremes.
The fossil fuel industry is one of the primary sources of methane pollution, responsible for more than a third of national emissions and second only to agriculture. Because methane has a significantly stronger warming effect than carbon dioxide in the short term—more than eighty times more powerful over twenty years—tackling these emissions is one of the most effective ways to slow near-term climate change.
We are also hopeful that the UK Government will take further steps to harmonise onshore with offshore regulations applied by the NSTA, ensuring a consistent and effective framework for emissions reduction across all operations. This would involve strengthening the Environment Agency’s power through better funding and robust legislative support.
The UK’s continued investment in initiatives such as the Climate and Clean Air Coalition’s Fossil Fuel Regulatory Programme underscores its commitment to driving global progress. As we look ahead to COP30, we are encouraged by the UK’s ambition to accelerate policy delivery and expand international cooperation. These efforts will be crucial in turning methane reduction into a true “climate emergency brake,” and we look forward to supporting even more ambitious targets and tangible progress on methane mitigation on the path to a cleaner energy future.
“We are pleased that the UK has recognised the urgency of tackling methane through its new Methane Action Plan and is signaling leadership on the global stage”, said Emily Mott of the UK Methane Campaign and Weald Action Group. “However, by failing to reference and include the onshore oil and gas sector, the Government has missed a critical opportunity to tackle all domestic fossil emissions and is jeopardising its communities and their right to a safe and healthy environment.”
“We’ve witnessed sites in the South Downs National Park where methane was flowing out of the ground through cracked cement; deliberately leaked from opened tanks, black carbon burning and methane venting 24/7. The Methane Action Plan is a good start, but without mandatory methane regulations for the onshore fossil-fuel industry, the UK risks undermining its own goals.”
Emily Mott, UK Methane Campaign, Weald Action Group
“As the world crosses our first global tipping point with the irreversible collapse of warm water coral reefs, we have no choice but to act quickly. Luckily, we still have a short window for an easy win: decreasing methane emissions is one of the fastest and most effective ways to make a difference immediately. Stronger regulations are not only a quicker path to combating climate change, but they also protect our communities and keep our air clean.”
Katie Pascavis, University of Oxford, UK Youth Methane Campaign
“Today’s Methane Action Plan is a step forward and shows the UK is beginning to take methane action more seriously — particularly in recognising its role in the agriculture and waste sectors. But methane emissions from the fuel supply sector remain underreported and underregulated, and the plan’s ambition falls short of what’s needed to meet the UK’s global commitments. Real progress means giving this plan regulatory teeth — turning pledges into enforceable action that cuts waste, strengthens UK competitiveness, and slows the rate of warming in our lifetimes.”
Rebecca Tremain, UK Director at Clean Air Task Force
“The venting and flaring by the oil and gas industry defies any logic in its release of methane to the atmosphere. It is indefensible that they make minimal effort to capture and use the gas. Whilst we transition to renewable energy, some fossil fuel production will have to be tolerated, but it is vital that legislation and regulations force these companies to maximise the utilisation of methane and not waste this damaging gas.”
Ian Round, SOS Biscathorpe, Lincolnshire
[1] Curtailing Methane Emissions from Fossil Fuel Operations, International Energy Agency, 2021