The partnership will officially begin on Tuesday. Methane, the second most prevalent greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, has a greater ability to trap heat than CO2 but dissipates more quickly in the atmosphere. Therefore, reducing methane emissions can quickly help in controlling global warming. The Global Methane Pledge, introduced in September, now has half of the top 30 methane emitters and represents two-thirds of the global economy. Brazil, one of the top five methane emitters globally, is among the new countries joining the pledge. China, Russia, and India, which are also among the top five methane emitters, have not agreed to the pledge. These countries were previously identified as targets to join the pledge. Since its initial announcement in September with a few initial signatories, the United States and European Union have been working to convince the largest methane emitters in the world to join the partnership. Just last week, around 60 countries had signed up after a final diplomatic effort from the US and EU before the COP26 summit. Even though it is not part of the official UN negotiations, the methane pledge could be one of the most important outcomes of the COP26 conference due to its potential impact in mitigating the effects of climate change. A report from the UN released in May suggested that significant reductions in methane emissions over the next decade could prevent around 0.3 degrees Celsius of global warming by the 2040s. Failure to address methane emissions would make it impossible to achieve the goals set out in the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels and avoid the most severe consequences of climate change. The proposed 30 percent reduction in methane emissions would involve all sectors and be a collaborative effort among the countries involved. The main sources of methane emissions include leaky oil and gas infrastructure, old coal mines, agriculture, and landfill sites. Fulfilling this commitment is expected to have the most significant impact on the energy sector, as experts believe that repairing leaky oil and gas infrastructure is the most efficient and cost-effective way to reduce methane emissions. The United States holds the title of being the largest oil and gas producer globally, while the EU is the top importer of gas. This week, the United States is expected to announce new methane regulations for oil and gas. Later this year, both the EU and Canada are set to introduce methane legislation focusing on the energy sector.