IEA-AFREC Regional Roundtable on Turning Methane Pledges into Action

The IEA’s Global Methane Tracker 2025 indicates that while methane emissions from the energy sector remained near a record high in 2024, the world could soon reach a turning point in efforts to reduce these emissions. A growing number of countries are expressing interest in managing methane emissions, and many countries have signed on to pledges to reduce these emissions. Delivering on these pledges in full and on time has the potential to increase energy security, enhance revenues and support progress towards global climate objectives. However, despite some recent progress, many of these pledges are not yet backed up by detailed plans, policies and regulations.

The regional roundtable is hosted by the Nigerian Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas), in Abuja, Nigeria. As Africa’s largest oil and gas producer, Nigeria has demonstrated strong leadership by becoming the first African nation to develop and implement methane-specific regulations for the oil and gas sector. Nigeria is also a Global Methane Pledge Champion, actively working with international partners to align national efforts with global climate goals. Hosting this regional roundtable provides a platform for the country to share its experiences, regulatory innovations, and collaborative approaches with other countries in the region.

Objectives

• Identify specific national or regional barriers to methane abatement and areas for enhanced international support.
• Outline key steps towards incorporating pledges on methane into policy and regulation.
• Foment a standing regional coordination group.