Donors pledge more than $480 million to cut greenhouse gases

Philanthropic organizations pledged more than $480 million at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya to tackle methane and other powerful greenhouse gases, UN News said on 12 November. A separate additional $25 million commitment will support emissions reductions in seven countries.

The announcements follow the voluntary Global Methane Pledge, launched in 2021, under which participating countries aim to cut global methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.

Where the commitments are aimed

Africa Science News said the UK announced the separate commitment to help seven additional countries join the Super Pollutant Country Action Accelerator. The countries include Ethiopia and Côte d’Ivoire.

The philanthropic pledges are intended to support work in energy, agriculture and waste management, as well as projects addressing black carbon, cleaner cooking, transport and cooling technologies. A UK representative said cutting methane and other powerful pollutants was among the fastest ways to slow warming and limit how far temperatures exceed the 1.5°C threshold.

Meeting participants said methane reduction could improve energy efficiency, public health, food security and economic productivity. International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol urged governments to make climate policies enforceable, noting limited technical and institutional capacity in developing countries. Speakers warned against shifting the costs of moving to lower-emission farming onto smallholder farmers.

The financial commitments came as COP31 delegates continued to disagree over funding for adaptation to climate change and the future of fossil fuels.