Enviro News Asia, Belém — On the eve of the upcoming COP30, Brazil, China, and the United Kingdom, with the support of the COP30 Presidency, co-hosted a Global Methane Summit in Belém to accelerate climate action and deliver immediate benefits for air quality, food security, and public health.
The high-level meeting brought together representatives from Barbados, France, Germany, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), and Bloomberg Philanthropies, among others. The summit marked the launch of a historic set of initiatives to strengthen global cooperation in cutting methane and other non-CO₂ greenhouse gases — recognized as the fastest and most effective way to slow climate change.
The announcements signaled the beginning of a new era of cooperation, transparency, and accountability in tackling methane emissions through aligned regulations, rapid mitigation, and fairer markets. Leaders emphasized the urgent need to address “the other half” of climate change, referring to methane, nitrous oxide, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
During the session, the Brazilian Minister of Environment and Climate, Marina Silva, and the UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, launched the “Country Action Accelerator on Super Pollutants”, a multi-year CCAC initiative to achieve deep reductions of methane and HFCs in 30 developing countries by 2030.
Inspired by the success of the Montreal Protocol’s Ozone Units, National Super Pollutant Units will be established within government institutions to ensure sustained action. The first group — Brazil, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nigeria, and South Africa — will collectively receive an initial funding package of US$25 million, with the goal of mobilizing US$150 million in the first phase.
This initiative will drive coordinated, high-impact actions aligned with national priorities, bringing immediate benefits to public health, agriculture, and economic resilience while advancing global short-term climate action.
The United Kingdom also announced a joint declaration titled “Dramatically Reducing Methane Emissions in the Global Fossil Fuel Sector,” outlining six actions to cut methane along the oil and gas value chain. These include robust measurement and verification, elimination of routine flaring and venting by 2030, and support for low- and middle-income producer countries. A new government panel will also be formed to develop a near-zero methane intensity market, with progress to be reviewed in 2026.
“Short-lived climate pollutants such as methane have a much greater warming potential than CO₂ but remain in the atmosphere for a shorter time,” said Marina Silva. “Reducing their emissions gives us the chance to keep global temperature rise within 1.5°C and protect vulnerable communities. Today, the global effort against methane gained crucial momentum through the joint Brazil-UK initiative.”
China’s Minister of Ecology and Environment, Huang Runqiu, highlighted that the summit reinforced the crucial role of methane control in the global climate response.
“Climate change is a global challenge that requires concerted efforts from all countries. Sharing policies and actions to reduce emissions is essential for collective progress,” he said.
UK Minister Ed Miliband emphasized that cutting methane is one of the fastest and most effective ways to cool the planet and improve air quality:
“The UK is proud to be here at COP30, working with global partners to turn ambition into concrete action through our Methane Action Plan.”
Barbados Ambassador Liz Thompson stressed that reducing global methane emissions is a matter of survival for small island nations. Referring to recent disasters such as Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica two weeks earlier causing an estimated US$10 billion in damage, she urged:
“We need oil and gas companies to recognize the urgency of ending flaring and leaks. Countries gathered here can lead by example, and by COP31 we must move toward a legally binding agreement.”
COP30 CEO Ana Toni affirmed that the upcoming conference will serve as a platform to showcase scalable solutions, demonstrate national leadership, and mobilize financing for rapid mitigation:
“Time is our greatest challenge. Cutting methane emissions is a critical solution that delivers faster results,” she said, inviting global stakeholders to engage in methane-focused initiatives during COP30, including the ministerial meeting.
Together, these announcements represent a decisive step toward activating the world’s climate emergency brake — transforming commitments into implementation through stronger regulation, accelerated mitigation, and fairer markets. By integrating methane reduction into global systems for climate, trade, and development, leaders have set a new course for immediate and impactful climate action. (*)
