Regulators from around the world convene in Paris as new network aims to tackle methane emissions

The IEA, together with the UNEP-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), co-hosted the inaugural plenary meeting of the Methane Regulator-to-Regulator (MR2R) Network at the IEA headquarters in Paris on 14-15 April 2026.

The two-day meeting brought together government officials and regulators from nearly 30 countries and regional organisations, alongside representatives from international partner organisations. The MR2R Network is a joint initiative of the IEA and CCAC, designed to support peer-to-peer exchange among regulators and accelerate effective methane abatement.

Participants exchanged views on the latest global methane emissions trends and explored how regulators can translate high-level commitments into action. Discussions addressed the role that regulations can play in reducing methane emissions, including practical challenges related to regulatory design, implementation, enforcement and data availability, as well as the growing importance of methane performance in market, trade and finance decisions. The meeting also highlighted emerging tools and resources to support regulators in developing and implementing methane regulations.

The MR2R Network builds on the work of the IEA's Global Methane Engagement Programme, which supports multilateral cooperation and regional outreach and capacity-building, including through regional roundtables held to date in the Central Asia, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The MR2R Network will support sustained collaboration among participating regulators, facilitating peer exchange, the development and dissemination of best practices, and continued capacity building on methane emissions regulation through future activities. The Network's next plenary meeting is planned for 2027. A summary of the inaugural meeting's proceedings is available here.