Hosted by the China University of Mining Technology, UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) and the International Society for Mine Surveying, the 2025 International Workshop on Methane Observation and Quantification brought together more than 100 experts from 20+ research institutions worldwide to advance scientific efforts to observe and quantify methane. This research supports methane management and underpins emissions reductions, which are urgent to slow near-term global warming. This year marked the third year of the workshop, which has fostered collaboration among scientists engaged in this global climate challenge.
In addition to strong participation from the People’s Republic of China, scientists based in Canada, the United States of America, Australia, Poland, the Netherlands and Malaysia presented state-of-the-art methane science. Their research covered a wide range of topics, from emissions sources to data analysis and mitigation policies. Presentations focused on several methane-emitting sectors, including agriculture, waste, oil and gas and coal, all of which offer opportunities for mitigation.
Dr. Robert A. Field, who leads IMEO’s coal mine methane science studies, highlighted key IMEO projects that are improving our understanding of emissions from coal mines, as well as IMEO’s role providing policy-relevant methane data to enable action. IMEO Remote Sensing Lead Itziar Irakulis Loitxate presented how IMEO uses satellite data to increase transparency on large methane emissions globally, with a particular focus on its Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) program. MARS uses satellite observations to alert governments and companies worldwide to enable rapid mitigation. Visit the workshop website to learn more.
