Focus on Arts and Ecology

November 2, 2021  

Over 100 countries representing 70% of the global economy have now joined the Pledge

Today, the United States, the European Union, and partners formally launched the Global Methane Pledge, an initiative to reduce global methane emissions to keep the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach.  A total of over 100 countries representing 70% of the global economy and nearly half of anthropogenic methane emissions have now signed onto the pledge.  

The strong global support for the Pledge illustrates growing momentum to swiftly reduce methane emissions---widely regarded as the single most effective strategy to reduce global warming.  Countries joining the Global Methane Pledge commit to a collective goal of reducing global methane emissions by at least 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030 and moving towards using best available inventory methodologies to quantify methane emissions, with a particular focus on high emission sources.  The countries who have joined the Pledge represent all regions of the world and include representatives from developed and developing nations.

The U.S. and EU are also proud to announce a significant expansion of financial and technical support to assist implementation of the Pledge. Global philanthropies have committed $328 million in funding to support scale up of these types of methane mitigation strategies worldwide. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, and the Green Climate Fund have committed to support the Pledge through both technical assistance and project finance.  The International Energy Agency will also serve as an implementation partner.

Delivering on the Global Methane Pledge would reduce warming by at least 0.2 degrees Celsius by 2050, providing a crucial foundation for global climate change mitigation efforts.  In addition, according to the Global Methane Assessment from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), achieving the 2030 goal would prevent over 200,000 premature deaths, hundreds of thousands of asthma-related emergency room visits, and over 20 million tons of crop losses a year by 2030.

The supporters of the Global Methane Pledge include the U.S., the EU, and the following 103 countries:

1. Albania
2. Andorra
3. Argentina
4. Armenia
5. Barbados
6. Belgium
7. Belize
8. Benin
9. Bosnia and Herzegovina
10. Brazil
11. Bulgaria
12. Burkina Faso
13. Canada
14. Central African Republic
15. Chile
16. Colombia
17. Republic of the Congo
18. Cameroon
19. Costa Rica
20. Cote D'Ivoire
21. Croatia
22. Cyprus
23. Democratic Republic of the Congo
24. Denmark
25. Djibouti
26. Dominican Republic
27. Ecuador
28. El Salvador
29. Estonia
30. Ethiopia
31. Federated States of Micronesia
32. Fiji
33. Finland
34. France
35. Gabon
36. Gambia
37. Georgia
38. Germany
39. Ghana
40. Greece
41. Grenada
42. Guatemala
43. Guyana
44. Honduras
45. Iceland
46. Indonesia
47. Iraq
48. Ireland
49. Israel
50. Italy
51. Jamaica
52. Japan
53. Jordan
54. Korea
55. Kyrgyzstan
56. Kuwait
57. Liberia
58. Libya
59. Luxembourg
60. Malawi
61. Mali
62. Malta
63. Marshall Islands
64. Mexico
65. Monaco
66. Montenegro
67. Morocco
68. Nauru
69. Netherlands
70. Nepal
71. New Zealand
72. Nigeria
73. North Macedonia
74. Nuie
75. Norway
76. Pakistan
77. Palau
78. Panama
79. Papua New Guinea
80. Peru
81. Philippines
82. Portugal
83. Rwanda
84. Saudi Arabia
85. Senegal
86. Serbia
87. Singapore
88. Slovenia
89. Spain
90. Kitts & Nevis
91. Suriname
92. Sweden
93. Switzerland
94. Togo
95. Tonga
96. Tunisia
97. Ukraine
98. United Arab Emirates
99. United Kingdom
100. Uruguay
101. Vanuatu
102. Vietnam
103. Zambia