Reducing methane emissions
Methane is a greenhouse gas that is over 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide on a 20-year time scale. Global methane emissions are responsible for about 30% of the rise in temperature to date and half a million premature deaths globally each year through air pollution. Strong, rapid, and sustained methane reductions are critical to addressing climate change and improving our health and air quality.
Methane is also a short-lived climate pollutant that stays in the atmosphere for about a decade. This is a shorter lifetime than carbon dioxide, which can stay in the atmosphere for hundreds of years. As a result, methane concentrations in the air respond more quickly to cutting emissions. This means that cutting methane is an effective way to fight global warming in the near term.
Canada’s methane emissions
Total methane emissions in 2024
Long description
| Sector | Percentage (%) of total |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | 30% |
| Waste | 19% |
| Oil and gas | 47% |
| Other sources | 4% |
What we’re doing
Canada has regulated methane emissions from key sectors and is investing in methane solutions across the economy. These actions have reduced emissions and helped lead to new economic opportunities by driving industry investments in clean technology and innovation. Canada’s methane mitigation sector has grown, as there are now over 130 methane mitigation companies with operations in Canada.
Reducing methane emissions is a key part of our climate plans and policies, such as:
- Faster and Further: Canada’s Methane Strategy: sets out how Canada will reduce methane emissions across the economy
- 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: outlines methane emissions reductions reduction as a key part of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050
Canada has made significant progress in reducing methane emissions. We are on track to reduce domestic methane emissions by more than 35% by 2030, compared to 2020 levels. Through ambitious regulations, enhanced measurement and transparency, and international partnerships, Canada has the knowledge and expertise to lead the charge on mitigating methane.
Cleaner oil and gas sector
Mitigating methane is a critical and cost-effective way to reduce emissions in energy production. We were one of the first countries in the world to regulate methane emissions from new and existing oil and gas facilities in 2018.
Our experience has shown that methane regulations can greatly reduce greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions from the oil and gas sector without harming the economy. As some countries are aiming to reduce the methane intensity of imported fossil fuels, tackling oil and gas methane emissions could make our exports more attractive in those markets. This can give Canada a competitive advantage as we build one of the strongest economies in the G7.
Recent action
- March 2026: finalized an Agreement in Principle with Alberta to develop an equivalency agreement for the Enhanced Methane Regulations
- December 2025: finalized Regulations Amending the Regulations Respecting Reduction in the Release of Methane and Certain Volatile Organic Compounds (Upstream Oil and Gas Sector)
- the Enhanced Methane Regulations are estimated to reduce oil and gas methane by 72% below 2012 levels by 2030
Other actions
- Oil and gas methane regulations (2018 regulations)
- Emissions Reduction Fund
- Clean Fuel Regulations
- Output-Based Pricing System
Sustainable agriculture
Agriculture plays an essential role in the economy, and Canada’s farmers help feed the world. Many Canadian farmers are world leaders in environmental sustainability. They have increased productivity by improving nutrition, genetics, and management practices. Canadian farmers will remain key partners in developing and implementing solutions to tackle climate change and build resilience.
Canada is investing in developing and implementing agricultural practices and technologies that can reduce methane. This builds on voluntary efforts by farmers and ranchers.
Recent action
- November 2023: launched the Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge to reduce methane emissions produced by cattle
- April 2023: launched the Sustainable Canadian Agriculture Partnership to foster sustainability, innovation, economic competitiveness and resilience across the sector
Other actions
- Offset Protocol: Reducing manure methane emissions
- Offset protocol: Reducing enteric methane emissions from beef cattle
Capturing landfill methane emissions
Landfill gas management systems capture methane before it’s emitted to the atmosphere. It can then be used to create low-carbon electricity or renewable natural gas.
Recent action
- December 2025: finalized Landfill Methane Regulations, projected to reduce waste sector methane emissions by 42% below 2019 levels by 2030
- Offset Protocol: Landfill methane recovery and destruction – enables landfills that take early, voluntary action to create and sell offset credits
Other actions
Measurement, research, innovation and reporting
Canada is a global leader in developing and implementing innovative technologies to detect, track and address methane emissions. Canada’s scientists use atmospheric measurements, emissions inventories and modelling to improve understanding of methane emissions. This work supports the development and continuous improvement of emissions reporting and regulatory approaches.
To support these efforts and improve knowledge sharing, we launched the Methane Centre of Excellence in March 2024. The Centre aims to increase government-led research efforts, provide funding for Canadian innovators, and connect Canadian experts to exchange knowledge and expertise. Canada is also a partner of the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO). The IMEO is a global initiative that provides methane data satellites, scientific studies, industry reporting and national inventories to support targeted methane reduction efforts.
Science and transparency drive action. We will continue to develop and share innovations in methane science as accurate measurement and quantification is critical to achieving both Canadian and global methane targets.We will continue to develop and share innovations in methane science as accurate measurement and quantification of methane is critical to achieving Canada’s methane targets.
Reporting methane emissions
Canadian science and research
Our scientists work closely with academia and other experts to study and monitor methane emissions.
- Hybrid bottom-up and top-down framework resolves discrepancies in Canada’s oil and gas methane inventories
- Estimating methane emissions from the waste sector in Southern Ontario using atmospheric measurements
- Ground-Based Mobile Measurements to Track Urban Methane Emissions from Natural Gas in 12 Cities across Eight Countries
- Creating measurement-based oil and gas sector methane inventories using source-resolved aerial surveys
- Hybrid Framework for Tracking Canada's Oil and Gas Methane Emissions
- Chasing after methane’s ultra-emitters
- Where the Methane Is—Insights from Novel Airborne LiDAR Measurements Combined with Ground Survey Data
Supporting global methane emissions reductions
We are providing global leadership and support to tackle methane emissions around the world through:
- innovative clean tech solutions
- financial assistance to developing countries
- participation in international climate initiatives to help other countries reduce their methane emissions
In June 2025, Canada became the co-convener of the Global Methane Pledge with the European Union. The Pledge aims to advance work in reducing global methane emissions by 30% below 2020 levels by 2030 collectively. Canada was one of the first countries to endorse the Pledge when it was launched in 2021. The GMP has helped realize significant progress on methane mitigation, as methane is expected to be the first of the major greenhouse gases to show a reduction in emissions.
In November 2025, Canada joined the UK and other countries in committing to achieve near zero methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector.
- Global Methane Initiative
- Climate and Clean Air Coalition
- Arctic Council
- Commission for Environmental Cooperation
- Global Methane Pledge Energy Pathway
- Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases
- International climate finance
Canada is building methane mitigation into bilateral agreements with key partners. These agreements include technical and expert exchanges on best practices, and measurement, monitoring, reporting and verification frameworks.