Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) Snapshot – Top 50 Emitters, Country (…)

Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) Snapshot – Top 50 Emitters, Country Responses and Mitigation

Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases and a significant share of it comes from sources that can be identified, tracked, and mitigated. UNEP's Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) integrates data from more than 30 satellites to alert countries of major methane emissions and enable concrete action.

This April 2026 snapshot provides an updated picture of where the world stands: 41 major methane sources have been confirmed as mitigated following MARS notifications, representing an estimated 1,200,000 tonnes of methane, a climate impact comparable to nearly 24 million gasoline-powered cars driven for one year. Countries that have designated a MARS focal point consistently demonstrate higher response rates and more effective follow-through.

Waste sector landfills appear repeatedly among the world’s 50 largest methane emitters — including sites in Chile, India, Angola, Iran, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Yemen — illustrating the direct and measurable link between unmanaged waste and global methane emissions.