United Kingdom
Introduction
The United Kingdom is a founding member of the Global Methane Initiative (GMI), which was launched in 2004.
The United Kingdom has made significant progress in reducing methane emissions as part of the country’s comprehensive climate strategies, reducing methane emissions by 62% between 1990 and 2020. These efforts, along with participation in international initiatives, demonstrate the United Kingdom’s commitment to addressing methane emissions and aligning its strategies with global climate goals.
- Introduction
- Methane Emissions Summary
- Methane Commitments and Plans
- Methane Actions
- Ministries and Agencies Supporting Methane Actions
- GMI Delegates
Last Updated: October 2024
Methane Emissions Summary
According to the United Kingdom’s Methane Memorandum, published in 2022, methane emissions have been reduced dramatically since 1990. Methane emissions accounted for 13% of total emissions in 2020, amounting to 52 million tons (Mt) CO2 equivalent. The majority of these emissions originated from the agriculture sector (48%) and waste management sector (31%).
Trend in Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Gas, 1990-2020
Trend in Methane Emissions by Sector, 1990-2020
Source: United Kingdom Methane Memorandum, 2022. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-methane-memorandum/united-kingdom-methane-memorandum
Methane Commitments and Plans
Methane mitigation efforts in the United Kingdom are guided by national and international commitments and plans.
National
- Published in 2021, the Environmental Agency Methane Action Plan 2024 to 2026 outlines various actions to reduce methane emissions. Key initiatives include improving data collection to better regulate targeted methane actions, maximizing the effectiveness of regulations to reduce methane emissions, and enhancing collaboration and the collective understanding of the importance of methane reduction.
International
- The United Kingdom joined the Global Methane Pledge in 2022, agreeing to take voluntary actions to contribute to a collective effort to reduce global methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
- The United Kingdom has been a partner of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition since 2022, supporting activities to reduce methane and other short-lived climate pollutants.
Methane Actions
The following highlights a sampling of actions taken by the United Kingdom to address methane, organized by GMI sector.
Biogas Sector
- The United Kingdom has committed to reducing food waste by 50% by 2030. To achieve this goal, the country will enhance the biogas sector by converting food waste into biogas to mitigate methane and reduce waste. (November 2022)
Coal Mines Sector
- The United Kingdom is mitigating methane emissions from abandoned coal mines by managing mine flooding, which reduces methane release and seals coal seams. The county is also using passive vents or engineered schemes to provide pathways to the atmosphere to prevent methane accumulating in hazardous concentrations. (November 2022)
Oil & Gas Sector
- The Iron Mains Risk Reduction Program (2021-2026) aims to reduce methane leakage from the gas distribution network by replacing old iron mains pipes with new plastic pipes to enhance durability and sustainability. (2021)
Ministries and Agencies Supporting Methane Actions
Explore the following websites to learn more about the government ministries addressing methane emissions.
- Office for Environmental Protection
- Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs
- Department for Transport
- Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
- Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
- Health and Safety Executive
- Office of Gas and Electricity Markets
- North Sea Transition Authority
- The Coal Authority