What COP30 Signaled about Global Methane Leadership

Since COP30 wrapped up in Brazil last week, we reflected on key developments and outcomes inspiring confidence that we are making progress in addressing methane  – a critical topic of focus.  

As a powerful but short-lived super-pollutant, methane was central to discussions on how near-term progress can slow global temperature rise. Accordingly, the Super Pollutants Solutions Pavilion, hosted by the Global Methane Hub, Clean Air Fund, and Super Pollutant Action Alliance, served as a hub of activity for various partners and leaders committed to advancing methane mitigation action. 

Here are some of the trends and developments the Carbon Mapper team found most notable.    

Remote Sensing is a Powerful Tool 

Satellite methane data is increasingly accessible to global leaders and decision makers looking to better identify and manage methane emissions. 

Carbon Mapper is providing accessible data on thousands of super-emitting point sources across the oil and gas, coal, waste, and agricultural sectors, made publicly available on its data portal, thanks in part to the launch of Tanager-1 satellite last year. We recently released insights from the first year of Tanager in orbit, including ways that this technology has enabled us to track previously unseen super-emitters globally; what we have observed; and how providing accessible and actionable data on the exact sources of emissions is helping decision makers mitigate these sources.

Above: See Kenzie Huffman and Dan Cusworth speak with Ingmar Rentzhog, Founder and CEO of We Don’t Have Time here.

The UN’s International Methane Emissions Observatory’s (IMEO) Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) has also seen an increase in government engagement on methane notifications - with their response rate climbing from one to 12 percent, highlighted in their, An Eye on Methane: From measurement to momentum report.  This increase is encouraging, however, it also shows that we need more collaboration to get the data to where it needs to go in order to achieve the objectives set by Global Methane Pledge goal of curbing methane emissions 30 percent by 2030.

These and other data sources are recasting how global decision makers understand and manage methane super-emitters — especially in the waste sector where Carbon Mapper data shows a significant opportunity. Observational data is being used by governments to underpin deeper commitments and manage methane more effectively and efficiently. 

Countries are Assuming New Leadership Roles 

While the U.S. was absent at COP30, other countries have stepped up in a big way, announcing a variety of initiatives and partnerships that are specifically leveraging satellite technology and data to deepen and deliver on new and existing methane reduction commitments. 

On Nov 15, Carbon Mapper hosted a discussion with Clean Air Task Force (CATF), the Government of Kazakhstan, and the State of California to discuss ways policymakers at different phases of their methane journeys can leverage remote sensing to meet their goals. 

Government leaders expressed how their current or planned use of satellite methane data gives them a great deal of hope. However, it’s also clear that key barriers must be addressed for this data use to become more powerful and widespread, such as finding ways to better integrate satellite measurements into national level inventories.

The Government of host country Brazil soon doubled down, announcing the launch of a process to develop an initiative to use satellite and remote sensing technology to detect and mitigate methane from the country’s waste sector. The process will be developed by the Brazilian Ministry of Environment in partnership with CATF and Carbon Mapper, as well as local governments and stakeholders, marking a major step in Brazil’s efforts to reduce methane and strengthen its Global Methane Pledge commitment. 

And just before COP in September, the Government of Kazakhstan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Global Methane Hub. Through the MoU, these parties will work together to develop and implement the country’s first National Methane Action Plan, establish a National Methane Office, and leverage satellite technology to detect and monitor major methane emissions in the oil and gas, and waste sectors. 

U.S. States are also Stepping Up 

On Nov. 13, the California Air Resources shared positive results from the first six months of the state’s California Satellite Methane Project. Using Planet’s Tanager-1 satellite and methane data from Carbon Mapper, the state has identified and mitigated 10 large methane emissions events at oil and gas facilities since May 2025. Addressing these sources is the equivalent of removing about 18,000 cars from California roads for a year. 

This program is a compelling example of how satellites can be used to pinpoint, quantify, track, and ultimately help mitigate methane emissions — setting a course for other leading states. 

Philanthropy Injects Catalytic Funding 

Just ahead of COP30 at the Bloomberg Green Summit in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced a new $100 million investment to accelerate global efforts to cut methane emissions. 

The commitment will expand global satellite monitoring capabilities, strengthen policy action across nine key countries and nine U.S. states, and build up global impact networks that will drive action on methane super emitters detected from space in areas with the greatest potential to reduce emissions. Carbon Mapper is proud to be among the organizations partnering on the next phase of work. 

This partnership will help bridge the gap between emissions transparency and mitigation, which has been a growing challenge as remote sensing data scales up, but on-the-ground action struggles to keep pace. 

Above: Watch a video of Riley Duren's session here.

Partnerships Remain Key 

Like any complex global challenge, no one entity or country can tackle methane alone. It takes a diverse network of partners working together — from increased space-based data transparency to developing and implementing solutions with boots on the ground action — to address methane. 

COP30 has reinforced the importance of diverse and lasting collaborations. Carbon Mapper is committed to advancing our partnerships with other NGOs, governments, companies, and global partners to achieve our mission to drive greenhouse gas emission reductions by making methane and carbon dioxide data accessible and actionable.