History and Impact of GMI

GMI is celebrating 20 years of methane action. Since 2004, GMI 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, building technical capacity to act, and delivering meaningful reductions in methane emissions. In 2024, GMI Partners are celebrating 20 years of methane action and leadership.

Learn more about GMI

Visit the Basic Information About GMI page to learn more about how GMI operates today.

GMI's Impact Since 2004

Approximately
670
MMTCO2e
emission reductions achieved by GMI projects through 2023, which is equivalent to

more than
11
BILLION
tree seedlings grown for 10 years*

More than

55,000
people received more than

250,000
hours of training about reducing methane emissions and capturing methane for productive uses.

1,924
Assessments
Identifying opportunities for emissions reductions

438
Capacity Building/Information Sharing
Fostering best practices

1,208
Partnership Activities
Building relationships to foster action

Learn more about GMI's accomplishments.

Timeline of Key Events in GMI's History

 
 
 
2004

14 countries and key industry partners created “Methane to Markets Partnership”

The partnership aimed to bring methane mitigation to fruition by developing a “pipeline of projects” through information sharing, best practices, and cost-effective technologies.

Methane to Markets

 
 
 
October 2007 | Beijing, China

Methane to Markets Partnership Expo

Participation from more than 700 attendees from 34 countries, the Partnership Expo made history as the largest gathering in the world to advance methane recovery and use projects.

Methane to Markets Partnership Expo

 
 
 
2010 | New Delhi, India

Methane to Markets Partnership Expo

As the premier international forum for promoting methane recovery and use project opportunities and technologies, the Methane to Markets Partnership Expo provided opportunities to showcase methane mitigation projects and technologies and explore key technical, financial, and policy issues

Methane to Markets Partnership Expo

 
 
 
2010

GMI re-chartered as the “Global Methane Initiative”

  • Added municipal wastewater sector
  • Emphasized development of country- or sector-specific Action Plans
  • GMI grew to 37 Partner Countries

Global Methane Initiative

 
 
 
2013 | Vancouver, Canada

GMI Methane Expo

The Expo drew over 450 attendees representing 44 countries from around the world, including delegates from GMI’s Partner governments, representatives from the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and academia.

GMI Methane Expo

 
 
 
2016 | Washington, D.C., United States

GMI Global Methane Forum

GMI and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) welcomed more than 500 attendees from 62 countries to Washington, DC for the Global Methane Forum and CCAC Working Group meetings. Methane experts and policymakers from around the world gathered to discuss options for methane reduction and abatement activities.

GMI Global Methane Forum

 
 
 
2016

GMI Partners re-committed to the Global Methane Initiative for 5 more years

Shifted focus from the “pipeline of projects” to sharing best practices and leveraging other multilateral partnerships.

 
 
 
2018 | Toronto, Canada

GMI Global Methane Forum

With the help of key partner, CCAC, the conference focused on collaborative solutions to address methane emissions across key sectors of the economy.

GMI Global Methane Forum

 
 
 
2019

Launched the GMI Global Methane Challenge

This international campaign was launched to showcase methane mitigation policies and technologies to raise awareness and catalyze ambitious action.

Global Methane Challenge

 
 
 
2021 | Virtual

A Call to Action on Methane: an international dialogue hosted by GMI

This live event raised international awareness of the critical need to reduce methane emissions and emphasized opportunities for international leaders in industry, private sector, and government to take action.

A Call to Action on Methane

 
 
 
2021

GMI re-chartered for 10 more years

GMI convened an independent executive task force to assess GMI’s strategic strengths and leadership roles within evolving international efforts to address methane, which resulted in extending GMI’s charter for 10 years, with the timeframe aligned to reduction targets outlined in the Global Methane Pledge.

Global Methane Pledge

 
 
 
2022 | Washington, D.C., United States

GMI Global Methane, Climate and Clean Air Forum

The joint event sponsored by GMI and CCAC brought together policymakers, industry leaders, technical experts, and researchers from around the world. More than 850 people from 66 countries participated, including more than 400 in-person attendees and more than 450 others who joined virtually through livestreams or online meetings.

GMI Global Methane, Climate and Clean Air Forum

 
 
 
March 2024 | Geneva, Switzerland

GMI Global Methane Forum

GMI and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), in partnership with the Global Methane Hub and CCAC, hosted the Global Methane Forum at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. More than 800 participated from nearly 60 countries, including nearly 500 in-person attendees and hundreds more who joined virtually. Participants shared replicable successes to catalyze methane emission reductions in line with commitments to reduce global methane emissions at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.

2024 Global Methane Forum

 
 
 
November 2024

GMI Celebrates 20 years of Leading Action on Methane

As of 2024, GMI is comprised of nearly 50 countries, numerous key strategic partners and hundreds of private sector and multilateral organizations collaborating to take action on methane around the world. GMI advances information sharing, promotes ambitious activities, trains stakeholders, and builds capacity to abate methane. Through GMI, experts and decisionmakers share best practices, research, technology innovations, policy models, and real-world solutions that enable the successful implementation of methane mitigation policies and projects.

GMI Celebrates 20 years of Leading Action on Methane

Global Methane Initiative (GMI)
Leading methane action since 2004