Global Flaring and Methane Reduction Partnership (GFMR)

Global Flaring and Methane Reduction Partnership (GFMR) is sponsored by World Bank. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Global Flaring and Methane Reduction Partnership (GFMR) Select a EDS Sub navigation page selecting option, leaving this page The World Bank's Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) is a multi-donor trust fund supported by governments, companies, and multilateral organizations committed to ending routine gas flaring and reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector.

To help developing countries rapidly cut flaring and methane emissions, GFMR provides governments and state-owned entities with programmatic support. This includes catalytic grant funding, technical assistance, policy and regulatory reform advisory services, institutional strengthening, and mobilizing finance to jump-start and accelerate the deployment of flaring and methane reduction solutions.

During oil production, the associated natural gas, composed mainly of methane, is often treated as waste, and flared (burned) or vented directly into the atmosphere. This occurs when economic, regulatory , technical , or infrastructure barriers prevent it from being used as a fuel or when re-injecting it back into the reservoir is not possible.

Image: Ed Kashi/World Bank GFMR estimates that global upstream gas flaring rose for the third consecutive year in 2025, reaching 167 billion cubic meters (bcm), the highest recorded level since 2019. Flaring wastes natural gas that could be used for productive purposes, such as power generation, especially in countries where access to energy is limited. Flaring volumes in 2025 matched Africa’s annual gas consumption.

The gas flared was worth an estimated US$54 billion, roughly three quarters of the estimated cost of ending routine flaring entirely. Yet despite the tools needed to end routine flaring being well established, it persists; what holds back progress is not technical but structural — inadequate regulation, insufficient capital, limited market infrastructure, and a failure by operators and governments to treat reduction as a priority.

Gas flaring also contributes to climate change and negatively impacts the regional and local environment through the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), unburnt methane, black carbon, and other pollutants. Each cubic meter of associated gas flared is estimated to produce 2. 6 kilograms of CO2-equivalent (CO2e) emissions.

At current levels, global flaring is estimated to result in about 400 million tons of CO2e emissions annually. Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative (ZRF) GFMR advocates for ending routine gas flaring by garnering commitments for the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative (ZRF) .

Governments and companies that endorse ZRF commit to no routine flaring in any new oil field developments and to end routine flaring at existing (legacy) oil production sites as soon as possible and no later than 2030. Venting, when the associated gas (mostly methane) is just released unburnt into the atmosphere, is never an acceptable substitute for flaring.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential up to 80 times greater than carbon dioxide on a 20-year basis. Methane’s overall contribution to the global increase in temperature is second only to that of carbon dioxide. However, methane only remains in the atmosphere for around a decade, compared to centuries for carbon dioxide.

Rapidly reducing is one of the most important short-term climate actions we can take. Oil and gas operations release methane through the wasteful practices of flaring and venting, as well as through the unintentional release of fugitive methane emissions (leaks). The oil and gas industry is responsible for roughly a quarter of global anthropogenic methane emissions and about half of these emissions occur in developing countries.

Deploying the full potential of methane reduction solutions in the oil and gas sector could avoid roughly 0. 1 degrees Celsius of warming by mid-century—equivalent to zeroing out the emissions of every single car and truck in the world. Methane mitigation, however, only receives a fraction of climate finance.

The GFMR Partnership supports countries that lack the capacity and resources to address emissions while also leveraging billions of private and public sector finance.

GFMR aims to boost global efforts to end routine gas flaring and reduce methane emissions to the greatest extent possible along the entire oil and gas value chain by providing catalytic grants, technical assistance, enabling policy and regulatory reform, institutional strengthening, and mobilizing additional finance to support mitigation action by governments and operators.

How GFMR supports countries and operators By leveraging the World Bank’s country engagements, GFMR develops and implements comprehensive approaches to emission reduction projects and programs that will lead to cost-effective and sustainable reductions. Recipients of GFMR support are asked to commit to deploying the best industry standards and operational practices.

These commitments ensure a long-term, programmatic approach is established that continues to address flaring and methane emissions well beyond the intervention supported by GFMR. Accessing GFMR support and grant funding GFMR support and grants can only be accessed by governments and state-owned entities. GFMR is active in over a dozen countries , which account for about a quarter of the oil and gas sector’s methane emissions.

GFMR provides catalytic grants and technical assistance to governments and state-owned entities that commit to addressing flaring and methane emissions through long-term programs and investments.

GFMR supports governments and state-owned entities to: conduct methane leak detection and repair campaigns; identify, design and implement flaring and methane abatement projects; attract commercial and concessional capital to finance these projects; produce analytical and feasibility studies; build capacity and strengthen institutions, including deploying robust monitoring and reporting systems in line with the best industry standards; strengthen and implement policies and regulations; and prevent and rapidly respond to methane super-emitter events, in support of the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) Methane Alert and Response System (MARS).

For more information about GFMR, to join the partnership, or discuss collaborating on flaring and methane reduction opportunities, please contact us .

Global Flaring Rises Three Years in a Row, Undermining Energy Security The latest Global Gas Flaring Tracker, an independent report of gas flaring worldwide, reveals that global gas flaring rose for the third consecutive year in 2025, reaching 167 billion cubic meters (bcm), the highest recorded level since 2019.

Global Flaring Rises Three Years in a Row, Undermining Energy Security From Inception to Impact: Turning Wasted Gas into Energy Security GFMR is working with governments and industry to turn wasted gas — lost through flaring and venting — into an energy resource, supporting energy security while reducing methane emissions.

From Inception to Impact: Turning Wasted Gas into Energy Security Global Gas Flaring Hits Highest Level Since 2007 Global gas flaring surged for a second year in a row, wasting about $63 billion in lost energy and setting back efforts to manage emissions and boost energy security and access.

Global Gas Flaring Hits Highest Level Since 2007 GFMR Progress Update: Transforming Oil and Gas Operations to Curb Emissions The World Bank’s Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) Partnership is active in over a dozen countries, which account for about a quarter of the oil and gas sector’s methane emissions.

GFMR Progress Update: Transforming Oil and Gas Operations to Curb Emissions Global Gas Flaring Jumps to Highest Level since 2019 In 2023, the amount of gas flared worldwide rose by nine billion cubic meters (bcm) to 148 bcm, its highest level since 2019.

Global Gas Flaring Jumps to Highest Level since 2019 GGFR evolves into the Global Flaring & Methane Reduction Partnership On December 5, 2023 the World Bank launched the Global Flaring & Methane Reduction (GFMR) Partnership, focused on helping developing countries cut emissions generated by the oil and gas industry.

GGFR evolves into the Global Flaring & Methane Reduction Partnership Global Gas Flaring Falls to Lowest Level Since 2010 Progress in reducing gas flaring resumed in 2022, with gas flared worldwide falling by 5 billion cubic meters (bcm) to 139 bcm, its lowest level since 2010.

Global Gas Flaring Falls to Lowest Level Since 2010 GGFR, Ipieca, and IOGP launch Flaring Management Guidance for the Oil and Gas Industry The Flaring Management Guidance outlines new flaring management and reduction developments and examines industry experiences with eliminating flaring and new technologies, business models, operational improvements, and regulatory policy.

GGFR, Ipieca, and IOGP launch Flaring Management Guidance for the Oil and Gas Industry IFC Provides Landmark Loan to Reduce Gas Flaring, Boost Energy Access, and Power More Homes and Businesses Across Iraq IFC is investing in Basrah Gas Company (BGC) to support one of the largest gas flaring reduction projects in the world.

IFC Provides Landmark Loan to Reduce Gas Flaring, Boost Energy Access, and Power More Homes and Businesses Across Iraq Qatar Petroleum joins global effort to end routine flaring On March 17, 2021, Qatar Petroleum joined the Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership and endorsed the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative as part of the company’s efforts to end the industry practice of routinely flaring associated gas during oil production.

Qatar Petroleum joins global effort to end routine flaring Seven Countries Account for Two-Thirds of Global Gas Flaring Global gas flaring declined by 5% in 2020. Russia, Iraq, Iran, the United States, Algeria, Venezuela, and Nigeria remain the top seven gas flaring countries for nine years running, accounting for two-thirds (65%) of global gas flaring.

Seven Countries Account for Two-Thirds of Global Gas Flaring "We can end routine gas flaring by 2030. Here's how" We are now less than a decade away from the goal of Zero Routine Flaring by 2030, an ambition that sits at the nexus of climate change mitigation and energy policy. "We can end routine gas flaring by 2030.

Here's how" European Union pledges to support gas flaring reduction The EU’s new “strategy to reduce methane emissions” says it will consider regulation to end routine flaring and venting and pledges its support for the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative.

European Union pledges to support gas flaring reduction Occidental becomes first U.S.-based oil and gas company to endorse the World Bank’s “Zero Routine Flaring by 2030” initiative In a letter to the World Bank, Occidental’s President and CEO Vicki Hollub expressed the company’s commitment to end routine gas flaring by 2030, as part of a broader drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in global operations.

Occidental becomes first U.S.-based oil and gas company to endorse the World Bank’s “Zero Routine Flaring by 2030” initiative Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Intiative Cited in IEA report The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) new analysis found that the commitments from the Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring Initiative will be an integral component of the path to the Paris goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C.

Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Intiative Cited in IEA report Saudi Aramco endorses "Zero Routine Flaring by 2030" Initiative On November 6, 2019, Saudi Aramco endorsed the “Zero Routine Flaring by 2030” (ZRF) Initiative, joining 36 other major oil & gas companies in the global movement to end this 160-year practice.

Saudi Aramco endorses "Zero Routine Flaring by 2030" Initiative IPIECA supports flaring initiative IPIECA states its support to the ‘Zero Routine Flaring by 2030’ Initiative, thereby raising the profile of flaring even higher on the agenda of its 37 oil company members. IPIECA supports flaring initiative Methane from Oil and Gas Explained What is methane and why does it matter?

How does oil and gas production contribute to methane emissions? Why are flares a source of methane emissions? Why do oil and gas operators vent gas?

What are fugitive emissions? How can we reduce the amount of methane emitted? What is being done about methane emissions?

Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 (ZRF) The ZRF initiative commits governments and oil companies to end routine flaring no later than 2030. Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 (ZRF) Qatar’s journey to end routine gas flaring A partner of the World Bank’s Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFR) shares its track record and future plans for gas flaring reduction.

Qatar’s journey to end routine gas flaring GFMR publishes global flaring data estimates to monitor flaring levels and track progress towards ending routine gas flaring. SOCAR sets ambitions to slash Azneft's emissions to zero by 2022 A partner in the World Bank's Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFR), SOCAR shares its track record and future plans for gas flaring reduction.

SOCAR sets ambitions to slash Azneft's emissions to zero by 2022 Blog by Zubin Bamji, Harshit Agrawal, and Umar Serajuddin A new index highlights the need for shared responsibility to end gas flaring A new index highlights the need for shared responsibility to end gas flaring Energy sector methane emissions 70% higher than official figures -IEA Libya joins World Bank’s initiative to eliminate Routine Gas Flaring by 2030‎ – saving about US$ 650 million per year World Bank’s roadmap to stop flaring and curb methane emissions Energy addition: A new global imperative Partnerships and uniform rules vital to meeting methane goals Gas flaring continues to rise, finds World Bank Cutting flares, curbing methane: World Bank targets emissions in emerging economies UAE hosts World Bank meeting to curb global gas flaring by 2030 TotalEnergies moves to slash flaring at Iraqi oilfields as part of $10 billion integrated project ASEAN Centre for Energy Joins Southeast Asian Energy Players Call for Progressive Approach to Methane Emissions Reduction as Part of a Just Energy Transition Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter Publishes Baseline Report on Emissions Reductions Accelerating efforts to slash methane emissions Global Methane Pledge: which countries are cutting emissions?

National Oil Companies and Methane Reductions: How to Meet 2030 Goals Oil companies flare more natural gas, defying effort to eliminate practice Iraq’s drive to eradicate Gas Flaring gains momentum EU reaches deal to reduce highly polluting methane gas emissions from the energy sector Why COP28 is right to prioritize global methane and flaring reduction This year’s COP could be the most important yet Eni, Libya sign GHG emissions MoU Exxon halts routine gas flaring in the Permian, wants others to follow Climate-stressed Iraq must pursue ‘green growth model’: World Bank Angola's Economic Diversification and Development Potential are Inextricably Linked to Climate Resilience Global Methane Pledge: From Moment to Momentum The race to cut methane emissions ramps up worldwide Pemex fined for failures at top oil field leading to flaring, faces another fine GFMR’s global regulatory review provides a systematic analysis of regulatory frameworks governing the flaring and venting of gas in 21 oil-producing countries.

The framework for comparing regulations described in this report will help regulators and policymakers reach the goal of Zero Routine Flaring by 2030. - A Comparative Review of Policies - 28 Case Studies from Around the World A Personal Appeal to End Routine Gas Flaring For Faith Nwadishi and her community in Nigeria, gas flaring negatively impacts their fundamental way of life.

She tells us why this oil and gas industry practice must end as soon as possible. #EndRoutineFlaring A Personal Appeal to End Routine Gas Flaring