According to the International Energy Agency, methane leaks from the energy sector are much higher than national governments claim.
The IEA said that methane emissions in the energy sector are under reported.
According to the IEA's latest methane report, 70% of national governments underreport methane emissions from the energy sector.
The agency said that the energy sector is responsible for 40% of methane emissions from human activity.
The volume of gas leaked was equivalent to the amount Europe burns for power in a year, according to the IEA.
The agency said that if the escaping gas had been captured, the current gas prices and shortages could have been avoided.
Fatih Birol, the agency's executive director, said that soaring gas prices and the wide availability of technology to plug leaks means that nearly all of the emissions could be avoided.
The solutions are even profitable in many cases, according to the report.
Large methane leaks from oil and gas operations were detected by satellite. Significant emissions from the Permian basin in Texas and very large leaks in parts of Central Asia were observed by satellites. The IEA estimates of methane emissions from oil and gas operations in 2021 were from events seen by satellites.
According to the IEA, methane is responsible for 30% of the rise in global temperature since the Industrial Revolution. It is a key target for meeting climate goals due to its warming effect and short-lived nature, which means emissions cuts could have a rapid effect on limiting warming. China, India, the U.S., Russia and Brazil are the five largest emitting countries, accounting for half of the world's methane emissions. Iran replaced Brazil in the top five energy-related methane emitters. The U.S. and Brazil are not part of the Global Methane Pledge. Methane emissions from human activity will be reduced by at least 30% compared with 2020 levels.
The International Energy Agency is a champion of stronger action to cut methane emissions.
Russian President Putin ordered troops into eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, causing oil prices to spike to nearly $100 a barrel. Russia warned European gas prices will more than double after Germany halted the Nord Stream 2 line.
The IEA says the energy sector's methane emissions are under reported.
The IEA has a tracker for global methane.
There is a coal mine in the spotlight.
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