UCLA Stop Methane Project identifies mega methane leaks from oil, gas and waste sites as major global warming driver

Exam-focused facts from the 23 March 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) researchers analysed Carbon Mapper satellite data and detected about 4,400 significant methane plumes in 2025, each releasing more than 100 kilograms per hour.
Major leak hotspots are concentrated in Turkmenistan, the United States, Venezuela and Iran, with nine of the 10 largest US leaks found in Texas.
One recorded leak released roughly 5.5 tonnes of methane per hour, an emission level comparable to that from about one million vehicles.
Methane accounts for approximately a quarter of current global warming, and cutting these leaks could deliver fast climate benefits while providing time for longer-term clean energy transitions.