Frequently asked questions

Methane emissions from human sources (including the energy, waste and agricultural sectors) drive about 30 per cent of today’s global warming. Because methane is a short-lived but powerful greenhouse gas, with over 80 times more warming potential than CO₂, emission reductions now can deliver immediate climate progress and buy us time to pursue broader decarbonization.

Reducing methane emissions also carries significant benefits for public health, economic livelihoods and energy security.  

A report from the International Energy Agency, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition finds that in the fossil fuel sector alone, where reductions are overwhelmingly cost-effective and readily available, targeted action could avert nearly 1 million premature deaths from ozone pollution, 90 million tonnes of crop losses and about 85 billion hours of lost labor from heat exposure by 2050—all while providing roughly USD 260 billion in direct economic benefits. 

The Eye on Methane data platform is managed by the UNEP's International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO). 

Data displayed on the data platform map is drawn from: satellite observations such as through the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS), sector-specific transparency initiatives such as the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0), IMEO methane science studies and complementary open-source data. Please refer to the sections below for more details.

In the context of the data platform, we refer to measured and estimated data as follows.

IMEO built the Eye on Methane // GLOBAL to drive climate action. We invite you to use the data to identify and mitigate methane emissions.

The data are shared under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 ("Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International") license. This means that you are free to share and adapt the material, provided that you credit UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory, and include a link to the Eye on Methane // GLOBAL, and indicate whether any changes were made.

This data may not be used for any commercial purposes. However, commercial users, such as oil and gas operators, are encouraged to use the data to identify and address methane leaks.

Please visit the IMEO's Eye on Methane // GLOBAL to display and download data. 

IMEO's goal is to integrate measurement-based data from the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0) with satellite data and scientific studies.

As a first step, IMEO brings these main data streams into the data platform and pulls them together in a single database. As the coverage and precision of these data grow over time, IMEO will advance scientific and analytical efforts to provide further integrated insights and data products in the future.

The purple haze on the map is a visual representation of methane detections. It is not a measure of the physical size of a pollution plume, nor does it indicate that the entire country is emitting methane.

Each detection is displayed using a standardized visual footprint so that emissions remain visible and comparable across the globe. In smaller countries, a single detection can therefore appear to cover a large share of the territory. In larger countries, the same detection would appear proportionally much smaller.

Users are encouraged to zoom in for more detailed spatial context.

The Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) is a data-to-action service established by UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) to serve its mission to put open, reliable and actionable data into the hands of those who can reduce emissions.

MARS integrates data from over 17 satellites – more than any other public platform – to scan the globe for major methane emission sources. It then alerts countries and companies so that they can take methane action and accelerate progress. In doing so, MARS supports the implementation of the Paris Agreement and Global Methane Pledge. 

Governments may nominate focal points to receive MARS notifications directly from IMEO. In addition, the notification is shared with the UNEP Permanent Representative. Facility operators that are members of OGMP 2.0 will also receive notifications directly from IMEO. More information on the notification process is below.

MARS brings together four critical components to drive transparency and enable emission reductions:

MARS is the first global system that freely provides actionable and transparent data from satellites directly to governments and companies through a system of tailor-made notifications, enabling them to quickly reduce their methane emissions and drive progress to limit the rise of global temperatures.

MARS draws data from more than a dozen satellite instruments. IMEO then provides notifications to governments and companies and makes the data available in an accessible and actionable form on the Eye on Methane // GLOBAL.  

The system leverages UNEP’s global reach across governments, civil society and the private sector to put this data in the hands of stakeholders who can use it to drive down methane emissions.

MARS was announced at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference in November 2022 and began its initial pilot phase in January 2023. The pilot phase presented an opportunity for UNEP’s IMEO to engage with partners, countries and operators to refine MARS processes and procedures before making data public.

MARS became fully operational on December 1,2023. At COP29 in November 2024, IMEO publicly launched the IMEO Eye on Methane // GLOBAL, where MARS data can be viewed.

Data is available at: https://methanedata.unep.org.

Currently, the focus of MARS is on detection and alert of emissions in the oil and gas sector. IMEO is currently designing new MARS data products that will assess emissions in other sectors, including coal and waste sector sources. 

IMEO remote-sensing experts use the existing suite of Earth-observing satellites to detect emissions, trace them to their source and quantify them across the globe.

Data from these satellites are publicly available, though often require specialized remote-sensing expertise to properly interpret. IMEO provides this expertise to the global community to supply actionable data.

The table below provides additional information on the satellites MARS draws data from.

*Methane sensing instruments typically trade spatial resolution for coverage. Here we differentiate between the ones that can estimate a precise source (up to 20 meters), called Point-Source imagers, from the ones that measure less granular concentrations but with higher frequency, global mappers.

MARS combines the capabilities of satellites with a broad view of emissions across a large area with high-resolution satellites that can monitor methane emissions down to a small area on the ground. This enables a “tip-and-cue” approach.

STEP 1. Regions of interest are determined through:

STEP 2. Once a region of interest is determined, IMEO will do one or more of the following:

STEP 3. After a region of interest has been investigated once, MARS utilizes deep learning models to monitor data from continuously observing high-resolution satellites for future emissions from the region.

STEP 4. Notifications are sent to governments and companies once high-resolution satellites can locate emissions at the facility-level. These notifications may be batched, meaning they may contain emissions from one or more facilities over a recent time period.

More information on the satellite methodology can be found here. 

There are some fundamental limitations to using satellites for detecting emissions, tracing them to their sources and quantifying how much methane is being released into the atmosphere.

Every satellite has a unique minimum detection limit (MDL), which means that it cannot observe methane unless it is present at or above a specific concentration. 

Satellites can only detect methane when sunlight is available and where there are no clouds. This is because satellites detect methane using sunlight reflected from the Earth’s surface. As a result, it is difficult and sometimes impossible for satellites to detect methane emissions in persistently cloudy areas of the globe.

The brightness and topography of the Earth’s surface also influences whether methane is reflected and a source of methane can be detected. It is difficult for satellites to observe methane over or near water, in densely forested or complex regions (e.g. mountains or cities), and where there is little sunlight (e.g. high northern latitudes). 

While satellites are often capable of detecting large emission events, it is important to address the many smaller sources of methane that, in aggregate, make up a majority of the world’s methane challenge.

The persistency-weighted flux (PWF) visualization metric is a new way to calculate methane emissions that moves beyond static measurements to provide a more dynamic and accurate view of satellite-detected emissions. It incorporates both magnitude and frequency of emissions, for a stable, transparent and policy-relevant view of the data – empowering users to focus on the sources that matter most for climate action.

More details can be found on our persistency-weighted median flux rate technical note.

Satellite limitations can prevent detection of methane in certain parts of the globe. For example, satellites require sunlight reflected from the Earth’s surface to detect methane emissions, persistently cloudy regions or those with little sunlight present barriers to detection. For more detail on satellite capabilities, see the two previous questions above. 

Additionally, because MARS has been focused so far on methane emissions from oil and gas, the current distribution of detected events could reasonably be expected to be concentrated in oil and gas-producing regions. As MARS explores incorporating other sectors, the distribution of detections by countries may shift.

The following data is made publicly available 30 calendar days post-detection:

By late 2025, Eye on Methane // GLOBAL will be expanded to include new features that improve transparency and accessibility. For MARS detections, emissions will be organized by source rather than by individual plumes. Each source will be represented by a single icon showing the most recent detected plume at that location. By clicking on these icons, users will be able to see and download information on:

In the future, additional information will be provided that includes:

Data are shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA) license.

Once IMEO has identified methane emissions from an oil and gas facility using high-resolution satellite data, responsible stakeholders (e.g., government officials, facility operators) are promptly notified of this emission. If multiple emissions are detected in the same country at the same time, these are batched together into a single notification.

Through MARS, notifications of detected emissions events are shared directly with governments and, if possible, facility operators who are members of UNEP’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0). 

While IMEO urges rapid action to mitigate observed emissions, the discretion to act and timeliness of a response related to a MARS notification rests entirely with the relevant government and/or operator.

There are two processes for notifying governments:

Option 1 – Dedicated MARS focal point

If a MARS focal point has been nominated, the notification is sent to them. The government’s UNEP permanent representative is also copied in the communication (if appointed).

Option 2 – No dedicated MARS focal point

If a government-nominated focal point for MARS is not designated, the notification is sent to the government’s UNEP permanent representative (if appointed). 

Notification procedure for facility operators:

A MARS notification contains the following information:

While notifications will continue to be sent directly to governments and operators, summary information on detected emissions is also accessible through IMEO’s secure Eye on Methane // INSIGHTS portal, where authorized government users can view their country’s full history of MARS notifications, including source-level data, plume imagery, feedback and mitigation status. 

IMEO encourages governments to acknowledge receipt of the MARS notification as soon as possible. If the notification was not shared directly with an operator, the government will be encouraged to confirm the operator and forward the notification. 

From there, the government is encouraged to communicate with IMEO any findings from the operator and to work with IMEO and partners to take action on the emissions event as soon as possible.

IMEO will keep the government informed of any communications with operators as well as the final outcomes of any mitigation processes put in place. Further, IMEO will share with the government any additional satellite data localized to the notified site(s). 

IMEO requests that operators first acknowledge receipt of a MARS notification as soon as possible and provide initial information known about the emissions event in question (e.g., facility type, ongoing operation potentially responsible for observed emissions, etc.).

After providing this initial feedback, the operator is requested to provide more detailed final feedback within 30 calendar days post notification via a form provided by IMEO, including mitigation plans. Further, IMEO will share with the operator any additional satellite data localized to the notified site(s) that becomes available 30 days post notification.

At any time during the process, operators are encouraged to communicate with UNEP’s IMEO regarding the notification. IMEO and its partners stand ready to aid with mitigation efforts as requested.

If a mitigation action is undertaken and information is provided on this action to IMEO, further analysis of satellite data through MARS can verify the success of the mitigation.

Not necessarily. Methane emissions are also detected from satellites that do not have a high enough resolution to identify the facility responsible. For example, plumes from ESA’s Sentinel 5-P TROPOMI instrument, which has a coarse pixel-size, cannot always be attributable to the facility-scale. MARS cannot notify individual operators of TROPOMI-detected plumes unless MARS is also able to co-locate a detection with a high-resolution point source imager (e.g., PRISMA, Sentinel-2; see Table above) or receives other data that confirms the facility-level source of an emissions event. Consequently, most TROPOMI-detected plumes cannot be notified based on TROPOMI data alone. 

Most MARS notifications are based on detections from high-resolution point source imagers. During the MARS pilot in 2023, notifications were only sent if a contact was established in the government where an emission was detected. Following the full launch of MARS in early 2024, all notifications are now sent to designated focal points and/or the UNEP permanent representative. 

Data on detected emissions events becomes publicly available on the Eye on Methane data platform 30 days after detection, or 30 days after notification if a notification was issued. As of late 2024, the platform also includes information on whether detailed, source-level feedback on the emission event was received following a MARS notification.

Using the show me feature on the Eye on Methane data platform map, select methane plumes. A dropdown menu listing the response status will appear on the right.  

Varying levels of response are tracked on the platform: 

Case studies on successful mitigation action following a MARS notification are published on the Eye on Methane's knowledge and impact hub.

Questions about MARS data or process should be directed to unep-mars@un.org.

IMEO’s list of the world's top 50 methane emitters identifies the largest and most persistent methane-emitting sources globally, based on MARS data. It is designed to assess major sources of methane globally, help prioritize mitigation efforts and track progress over time.

The list ranks sources by emissions, selecting the top 50 largest and most persistent sources – those with persistency greater than 40 per cent and an uncertainty less than 15 per cent. The list is updated monthly based on data aggregated over a six-month period. As emissions change – for example, through mitigation efforts – the list evolves to reflect shifts in emission levels and in the largest global sources.

Through MARS, large methane emissions identified by satellites are notified to governments and facility operators to support timely investigation and mitigation. The response rate measures the percentage of notified emission sources for which IMEO received feedback from governments or operators compared to the total number of sources notified. This number can be calculated globally or for specific governments based on sources notified within their jurisdiction.

Responses may be submitted by governments or operators. This data is updated monthly on a rolling twelve-month average.

Response is a critical step toward methane mitigation, as it requires the investigation of a MARS-detected emission source. While MARS can identify large emission events, satellite observations alone cannot always determine the source, cause or whether emissions have ceased.

Feedback from governments and companies helps confirm emission sources, explain underlying causes, and provide updates on mitigation actions and emission status. This information strengthens supports more effective, evidence-based mitigation efforts and enables confirmation of successful mitigation actions.

The Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 is UNEP’s flagship oil and gas reporting and mitigation programme. Its 150+ member companies collectively represent 42 per cent of global oil and gas production, 80 per cent  of Liquified Natural Gas flows, 20 per cent of global natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines, and 10 per cent of global storage capacity.

OGMP 2.0 is the only comprehensive, measurement-based global reporting framework for the oil and gas sector that improves the accuracy and transparency of methane emissions reporting. Every year, the data becomes more accurate as OGMP 2.0 companies transition from estimated emissions to increasingly higher levels of measurement quality and move towards the Gold Standard of reporting. OGMP 2.0 Gold Standard reporting provides assurance to investors and gas buyers of a companies’ performance in its management of methane emissions.

Detailed asset level data reported by OGMP 2.0 companies undergo a rigorous independent review and quality assurance by UNEP. OGMP 2.0 includes four steps of data quality assurance:

In certain jurisdictions, commercial verification may be required by regulators. Work is underway with auditors to define an OGMP 2.0 Level 5 verification protocol.

The IMEO Eye on Methane data platform displays data from OGMP 2.0 members who have reported the previous year’s data. Companies are required to submit their first report the year after they join. 

OGMP 2.0 member company fact sheets on the data platform (found under Company Reporting) highlight the annual aggregated performance data based on reported emissions.

Users will see the company name, logo and description, methane emissions reduction target, and aggregated reported data according to OGMP 2.0 reporting levels, as well as the company’s Gold Standard status year on year. On the adjacent map, the selected company’s reported operated assets are displayed. Hovering over each will reveal a tooltip of summary information on the company. 

If the company has selected to voluntarily disclose emissions data of a particular asset, this is indicated in the tooltip with the additional emissions information and the level at which that asset is reported. 

 Each asset is colour-coded according to the company’s aggregated Gold Standard status (Gold Standard Reporting achieved — on the path to reach Gold Standard status — no Gold Standard status). Non-operated assets and any instances of missing data are not currently included.

The fact sheet includes MARS notification history and incident outcome where relevant as well as individual asset emissions where the company has voluntarily selected to disclose this information.

Future enhancements: The data platform is continuously evolving, and future updates will include additional data to further enhance transparency and support more comprehensive reporting.

Beta version notice: Please note that the current OGMP 2.0 data is in beta. Companies are encouraged to reach out to the OGMP 2.0 team if they encounter any errors or discrepancies in the data.

IMEO's methane science studies pursue four key objectives:

In principle, scientists and non-governmental organizations affiliated with a scientific or research institution can submit a study idea. Scientists, research partners and individual researchers can all respond to a call for proposals, provided they agree to follow the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) methane study framework.

Studies are funded through a contractual arrangement, with clear deadlines and deliverables and supported thanks to IMEO’s donor community.

Emission data collected as part of field measurements are made publicly available in scientific papers in an aggregated and anonymized form. The location of where the measurements were conducted are displayed on the data platform, along with a summary of the study findings and a link to the paper.

First and foremost, science studies start by creating awareness of where emissions come from, how large they are and what methods are required to address them. Results of science studies can be used to inform country policies and regulations through the recommendations that IMEO derives from its research. Studies can also inform industry’s efforts to select appropriate measurement technologies and improve efforts to assess and ultimately reduce emissions.

One example of how IMEO’s science studies impacted emissions is found in the Multi-Scale Measurements of Oil & Gas Production in Romania ROMEO study. The study showed that oil and gas production infrastructure in Romania holds a massive mitigation potential, specifically by implementing measures to capture the gas and minimize operational venting and leaks, and by implementing EU regulations. Following the first campaign study in 2019, there has been a marked decrease in the number of high-emitting sources, accompanied by a reduction in emission by 20 to 60 per cent. These emission reductions are likely to result from improvements to the production infrastructure implemented by the operators following the campaign.

There is now mounting evidence that science studies can lead to direct mitigation efforts on site as the campaign happens, in addition to policy-driven mitigation efforts. Collaboration between the research team and the local operators is key to rapid mitigation actions.

The full list of IMEO science studies and related fact sheet is available on the UNEP website.

The Steel Methane Programme (SMP) is a global initiative to make methane emissions from coal measurable, transparent and actionable across the steel supply chain. The programme empowers stakeholders with the data they need to understand emissions and unlock reductions in metallurgical coal (met coal) emissions in line with the Global Methane Pledge, while transitioning to green alternatives.

The furnaces that blast iron ore to make most of the world’s steel use met coal as a fuel and chemical reductant. Mining and processing met coal releases methane, increasing the climate impact of blast furnace steel by roughly a quarter.

With the demand for steel set to persist, and as an integral part of the transition towards low-carbon steel, mitigating methane emissions is critical to limiting the steel industry’s climate impact under any decarbonization scenario.

Most of these emissions can be substantially mitigated with existing technologies at less than 1 per cent of the cost of steel. But targeted action requires moving from estimated to measured data.

SMP combines science, data and industry engagement to make methane emissions in steel more visible and actionable:

SMP’s Coal Methane Database is the world’s first public data set of mine-level methane emissions integrating multiple sources of information, including scientific research, satellites and inventory data. The result is a comprehensive view of methane emissions in the steel supply chain, providing mining companies, steel producers and policymakers with information needed to guide engagement and drive methane reductions.

The database covers both surface and underground mines across diverse geographies and geologies. IMEO uses rigorous statistical methods to generate best-estimate emissions for each mine, along with uncertainties and methodological transparency, enabling users to understand both the accuracy and limitations of the data. 

IMEO attributes methane plumes detected over coal mines (metallurgical, thermal, or combined metallurgical and thermal) using the best available information. As a result, the level of confidence in the attribution varies by region and mine.

IMEO is actively working to expand our database with more granular information. Users should expect that the attribution of some mines may be updated in the future as new, more precise information becomes available and model methods are updated and improved.