G7 Conference on methane: Action on this potent GHG "remains an absolute priority" (Monique Barbut)

"Methane emissions have not declined. Sure, their growth has slowed, but we remain very far from the objective of a 30% reduction set by the Global Methane Pledge. Taking action on methane remains an absolute priority", declared Monique Barbut, French Minister of ecological transition, during the opening of an multi-stakeholder event on methane action, organized as part of the French G7 Presidency, on 04/05/2026.

"If we are to keep the Paris Agreement alive, we need to discuss all the levers that exist to contain global warming. And methane is one of them. It is a powerful GHG responsible for almost a third of present global warming. And over 20 years, its warming potential is more than 80 times greater than CO2, this latter having a shorter lifespan in the atmosphere", she said.

Despite "a number of international discussions which have already brought this issue to the forefront", the French Minister hopes that "the discussions will enable us to join our forces to accelerate the implementation of effective solutions to reduce methane emissions".

"Reducing methane emissions is not…