Methane to Markets Partnership 

Fact Sheet 

OBJECTIVE 

Methane to Markets is a multilateral partnership, the purpose 

of which is to reduce global methane emissions to enhance 

economic growth, promote energy security, improve the environment, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Other benefits include improving mine safety, reducing waste, and 

improving local air quality. The initiative focuses on promoting 

cost-effective, near-term methane recovery and use as a clean 

energy source. The Partnership is a collaboration between 

developed countries, developing countries, and countries with 

economies in transition—together with strong participation 

from the private sector. The Methane to Markets Partnership 

targets four major methane sources: animal waste management, coal mines, landfills, and natural gas and oil systems. 

BACKGROUND 

Methane, the primary component of natural gas, accounts 

for 16 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions resulting from 

human activities. Because methane is both a potent greenhouse gas and short-lived compared to carbon dioxide, 

achieving significant reductions would have a rapid impact on 

atmospheric warming. 

EXPECTED ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND GREENHOUSE 

GAS RESULTS 

The Partnership has the potential to deliver by 2015 annual 

reductions in methane emissions of more than 180 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2E) or recovery 

of 500 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas. These reductions, 

if achieved, could lead to stabilized or even declining levels of 

global atmospheric concentrations of methane. To give a 

sense of scale, this would be equivalent to: 

•	 Annual emissions of 33 million vehicles 

•	 Planting 55 million acres of trees, or 

•	 Emissions from fifty 500-megawatt coal fired power plants 

PARTNERSHIP 

ACTIONS 

On November 16, 2004, 

fourteen Partner countries signed a Terms of 

Reference document 

that outlines the purpose, organization, and 

functions of the 

Partnership. The core 

activities of the 

Partnership are to: 

•	 Identify and promote
 

areas of bilateral,
 

multilateral, and private sector collaboration on methane
 

recovery and use
 

•	 Develop improved 

emissions estimates 

and identify the largest relevant emission sources to facilitate project development 

•	 Identify cost-effective opportunities to recover methane
 

emissions for energy production and potential financing
 

mechanisms to encourage investment
 

•	 Identify and address barriers to project development
 

and improve the legal, regulatory, financial, institutional,
 

technological, and other conditions necessary to attract
 

investment in methane recovery and utilization projects
 

•	 Identify and implement collaborative projects aimed at
 

addressing specific challenges to methane recovery
 

•	 Foster cooperation with the private sector, research
 

organizations, development banks, and other relevant
 

governmental and non-governmental organizations
 

•	 Support identification and deployment of best management practices in the recovery and use of methane
 

www.methanetomarkets.org 1 March 2008 

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•	 Work to improve scientific understanding and certainty
 

in relation to the recovery and use of methane
 

•	 Develop collaborative action plans that outline a series
 

of concrete activities and actions directly supporting the
 

Partnership’s core goals and functions
 

•	 Develop and implement a process for evaluating progress 

and reporting results 

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS 

Methane to Markets serves as a framework to promote 

cost-effective, near-term methane recovery internationally 

through partnerships among developed countries, developing 

countries, and countries with economies in transition in 

coordination with the private sector, researchers, multilateral 

development banks, and other non-governmental organizations. 

For a current list of government partners, visit our Web site at 

www.methanetomarkets.org 

PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT 

The Partnership includes a Project Network that facilitates 

communication, project development and implementation, and 

private sector involvement. This Network assists with reaching 

out to and organizing the efforts of the private sector, the 

research community, development banks, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations with interests and 

expertise in methane recovery and use. Active involvement by 

the members of the Project Network is essential to build 

capacity, transfer technology, and promote private direct 

investment that will ensure the Partnership’s success. 

A current list of organizations in the Project Network is 

available on our Web site. 

For additional information, please visit the 

Methane to Markets Partnership Web site at 

www.methanetomarkets.org 

or contact the Administrative Support Group. 

Administrative Support Group 

Methane to Markets Partnership 

Tel: +1-202-343-9683 

Fax: +1-202-343-2202 

E-mail: ASG@methanetomarkets.org 

The current Partners account for more than 60 percent of anthropogenic methane emissions. 

Argentina China Germany Mexico Philippines Thailand 

Australia Ukraine 

Republic of Korea 

Colombia India Mongolia Poland 

Brazil Ecuador Italy Nigeria United Kingdom

(South Korea) 

European United States Canada Japan Pakistan Russia Commission of America 

Vietnam 

www.methanetomarkets.org 2	 March 2008
 

Printing was provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in its capacity as the Administrative Support Group for the Methane to Markets Partnership.