About the Global Methane Initiative

Launched in 2004, the GMI is an international public-private initiative that advances cost-effective, near-term methane abatement and recovery and use of methane as a valuable energy source in three sectors: biogas (including agriculture, municipal solid waste, and wastewater), coal mines, and oil and gas systems. Focusing collective efforts on methane emission sources is a cost-effective approach to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase energy security, enhance economic growth, improve air quality and improve worker safety.

Learn More

Our Philosophy

Methane is a potent greenhouse. Over its 12-year lifetime in the atmosphere, it traps 28 times more heat than carbon dioxide, resulting in a stronger influence on warming.

However, methane’s short atmospheric lifetime also means that reductions today can make an immediate impact to slow warming.

We help countries achieve methane reductions by capturing and converting it to useful energy. We provide technical support, serve as an information resource, foster peer exchange on best practices and lessons learned, and collaborate with other international organizations.

GMI Fact sheet

Learn more about GMI

GMI Fact Sheet: English | en Español

See also:

Our Approach

We provide cost-free technical, policy, and programmatic methane mitigation support to Partner Countries that helps them:

  • Quantify emissions reductions and co-benefits
  • Plan and implement methane mitigation projects, policies, and practices
  • Evaluate project-level technical and financial feasibility
  • Build in-country technical expertise and institutional capacity

Learn more about how GMI supports our partners

GMI Support for Methane Mitigation Fact Sheet: English | en Español

GMI Support for Methane Mitigation Fact Sheet

International Collaboration

The GMI collaborates routinely with other international organizations and initiatives to create synergies to mitigate methane globally. Working in collaboration with other international organizations, the Initiative has formed key alliances with partners such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), the Global Methane Hub, and the World Bank Group to reduce global methane emissions.

GMI Structure and Organization



The GMI consists of a Steering Committee, three technical subcommittees, the Project Network, and the Secretariat (formerly referred to as the Administrative Support Group) that work together to promote project development and encourage active engagement from the private sector.

The Steering Committee, which guides the work of the GMI, is supported by the Secretariat. It governs the Initiative's framework, policies and procedures. Partner Countries may appoint up to two representatives to the Steering Committee. All Partners are considered Steering Committee "observers" from the time they join the Initiative. Twelve months after joining and any time thereafter, Partner Countries may submit a request to become a Steering Committee member by sending a letter to the Secretariat that outlines their engagement (PDF, 1 p., 30 KB) in the Initiative.

The Secretariat, currently hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, provides administrative and logistical support and also serves as an information clearinghouse.

GMI’s Subcommittees are organized by the main sources of methane emissions: Biogas, Coal Mines, and Oil & Gas. Partner Countries appoint representatives from their governments to participate on the Subcommittees. The main focus of the Subcommittees is to reduce the impacts of climate change by providing international leadership to mitigate global methane emissions through the abatement, recovery, and use of methane. Members of the Subcommittees work together to remove barriers to methane mitigation projects, build capacity, develop joint GMI tools and resources, and promote methane as a valuable energy source.

The Project Network consists of representatives from industry, the research community, financial institutions, state and local governments and other expert stakeholders with an interest in developing and supporting methane abatement, recovery, and use projects in Partner Countries. Project Network members share their technical expertise, experience, and financial resources and are encouraged to attend subcommittee meetings and participate in developing sector-specific Action Plans. They also participate in specific activities such as capacity building, technology transfer, and outreach. By participating in the Project Network, these organizations are identifying potential project opportunities, making connections, staying informed and gaining recognition for their achievements.

More details about the organizational framework are provided in the Terms of Reference.

History and Impact of GMI

In 2004, 14 countries and key industry Partners recognized the need to address methane and created Methane to Markets, a public-private partnership to advance cost-effective, near-term recovery and use of methane as a valuable energy source. The partnership sought to reduce global methane emissions to fight climate change, enhance economic growth, strengthen energy security, and improve local environmental quality and industrial safety. In 2010, it was re-chartered as the Global Methane Initiative (GMI). Since the beginning, this public-private partnership has supported project development, training and capacity building, technology demonstration, and market development. It has fostered conversations and knowledge sharing about methane around the globe, raising the visibility of methane as a powerful greenhouse gas and harmful air pollutant. GMI has successfully increased understanding on methane; spurred investments in methane capture, mitigation, and use; supported the implementation of methane mitigation policies and projects; and expanded to include more Partners and participants over time. In 2024, GMI is celebrating 20 years of methane action with 49 Partner Countries and Project Network members and Strategic Partners from organizations around the world. The current charter is set to expire in 2031.

Global Methane Initiative (GMI)
Leading methane action since 2004