UN Secretary-General António Guterres has launched a global Call to Action on Methane. In a special address at the London Climate Action Week, Mr Guterres pointed out that the world had phased out leaded gasoline and eliminated ozone-depleting chemicals. “Methane pollution must be next”.
Although CO₂ is the principal driver of long-term global warming, methane is responsible for around one-third of global warming. Since it breaks down in the atmosphere within a decade or two, aggressive cuts could produce visible temperature relief within a generation.
Guterres called for actions including decisive steps to reduce food waste, end open dumping, and capture emissions from landfills and wastewater, as well as focusing on the agriculture sector.
He also pointed out that around 70 per cent of oil and gas methane emissions can be eliminated using existing technology – much of it at low or no net cost.
“Yet in 2025 alone, some 167 billion cubic metres of gas were flared into the sky – as much as Africa consumes in a year”, the Secretary-General said.
“I call on producer and consumer governments alike to set a new global standard for the oil and gas sector: near-zero methane emissions across the value chain.”
“Tax them”
Guterres also addressed the consequences of the war in Iran. He said that the eight largest fossil fuel companies have pocketed an extra $6.5 billion in the first quarter of this year alone – and that this figure only reflects one month of the Middle East crisis, as oil prices continued to climb and profits rose.
“I urge governments to tax them,” Guterres said. “And I urge them to use the proceeds where they belong: helping vulnerable families and communities, and accelerating the shift to clean, affordable energy. “
Mother of all energy shocks
He said that the conflict in the Middle East has unleashed “the mother of all energy shocks.
“The International Energy Agency tells us its scale rivals the oil upheavals of the 1970s … and the turmoil followed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Combined.”
Furthermore, he said, for many developing countries, this is not just an energy crisis.
“The good news is – unlike every past energy crisis – we now have a clear way out. A clean way out,” Guterres continued. “ Renewables are the cheapest, fastest and most scalable source of new electricity in most of the world.
Since 2010, the cost of solar has plummeted by almost 90 per cent, onshore wind by more than 70 per cent, and battery storage by 95 per cent.
Last year, wind and solar exceeded all new electricity demand growth worldwide.”
While acknowledging the potential of Artificial Intelligence to accelerate climate solutions, the Secretary-General also pointed out the huge energy consumption of AI data centres, which “consume more electricity than most nations.”
“By 2030, they could use more power than all but five countries – and enough water to meet the basic needs of all 1.3 billion residents of sub‑Saharan Africa for an entire year,” Guterres said. “So today I am proposing the AI Environmental Transparency Initiative.I am calling on every major AI company to measure and publicly disclose the full environmental impact of its systems – carbon, water, and land footprints – and to commit to power every data centre with renewable energy by 2030.”
The Secretary-General also expressed is worry that disinformation is used – deliberately – to delay climate action “The United Nations has launched the Global Initiative on Information Integrity on Climate Change to help do just that.
Facts matter. Science matters. Information integrity matters.”
The Secretary-General will also participate in additional engagements throughout London Climate Action Week on 23–24 June, including the Global Energy and Electrification Summit and the Local Leaders Summit on Tuesday. Mr. Guterres is expected to deliver remarks at the Climate and Development Finance Forum 2026 and a Super Pollutants reception, in the presence of His Majesty King Charles III.
Additional links: