In the energy sector,“ fugitive emissions” leak from poorly maintained oil and gas infrastructure, alongside methane venting from coal mines.
The waste sector contributes via decomposing organic matter in massive landfills and wastewater systems.
The International Energy Agency( IEA) reports that the fossil fuel sector is responsible for nearly one-third of methane emissions from human activity today.
Despite the growth of the green economy, record production of oil, gas and coal – combined with sporadic mitigation efforts – has kept global emissions above 120 million tonnes( Mt) annually.
In its May 2025 report, the IEA’ s Global Methane Tracker included abandoned wells and mines for the first time, revealing they contributed around 8 Mt to the 2024 total. Bioenergy production and consumption add another 20 Mt,
sustainabilitymag. com
85