Indonesia's coal mines underreport methane emissions

The findings suggest that Indonesia's outdated measurement methods and exclusion of emissions from underground mines result in nearly seven times underreported coal mine methane (CMM) emissions.

Independent analyses indicate emissions up to 875 kilotons, far higher than the official figure of 128 kilotons in 2019. This underreporting could hinder Indonesia's compliance with global methane reduction pledges. Despite being a signatory to the Global Methane Pledge, which aims to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030, Indonesia's future coal mine methane emissions could escalate significantly, reaching approximately 1,007 kilotons annually.

The report emphasizes the need for Indonesia to improve monitoring and reporting of methane emissions to fulfill its climate commitments. However, Indonesia is not alone in underreporting CMM emissions, as other countries, including Australia and Germany, also face similar challenges.