IIASA-GAINS model: Global database on anthropogenic methane emissions, future mitigation potentials and costs

This database contains global estimates of anthropogenic methane emissions, future mitigation potentials and mitigation costs. Estimates have been produced January-March 2026 using IIASA's GAINS model v4.1 (https://iiasa.ac.at/models-tools-data/gains) and represent an update of results presented in UNEP (2025) Global Methane Status Report. Key updates concern updates of historical energy sector and agricultural sector activity data to country statistics until year 2024, shift of baseyear for projections from 2020 to 2025, with 2025 activity data aligned with 2024 statistics, consideration of measures as mentioned in National Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted as of end of January 2026 (extenstion from June 2025), a higher resolution of technology representation for leak control in the oil and gas sector to better reflect potential and costs for biannual vs monthly leak-detection and repair programs, and a revision of coal-mining emissions in China to reflect recent studies suggesting a regional shift within China from regions with high emission factors to regions with lower emission factors for coal mining (Zhang et al., 2025). A detailed documentation of assumptions will be published separately. Previous versions of GAINS model methane data have been documented in Höglund-Isaksson et al., 2020 and Höglund-Isaksson, 2012.